Mandya: Mandya District Prison authorities have launched an inquiry after thumb impressions of several undertrial prisoners allegedly appeared on complaints circulated on WhatsApp and social media alleging extortion by jail officials.According to prison officials, some inmates had recently approached DGP(prisons) Alok Kumar during his visit to Mandya seeking permission to smoke inside the prison. The request was reportedly rejected, with authorities continuing strict restrictions on cigarettes, ganja, mobile phones, SIM cards and other prohibited articles.Officials said some prisoners subsequently collected the thumb impressions of more than 10 inmates on a plain sheet of paper, allegedly telling them the impressions were required for requests related to cigarettes and food items from the prison canteen.The controversy surfaced after documents carrying the thumb impressions appeared on social media. Several inmates whose impressions featured on the papers reportedly told prison authorities they had given them only for requests concerning cigarettes and canteen food and had not endorsed the allegations and demands contained in the documents.The complaints contained extortion allegations against jail authorities, claiming fixed amounts were collected from inmates for basic facilities and other favours. The alleged monthly payments cited in the complaints were Rs 10,000 from cell 1, Rs 15,000 each from cells 3 and 4, Rs 5,000 from cell 5 and Rs 8,000 from cell 6. The documents further alleged that Rs 2,000 was collected for changing rooms and Rs 10,000 for release from the punishment cell. The complaints have gone viral on social media.Jail superintendent Shanthamma said officials questioned inmates after noticing their thumb impressions on the circulated documents.“Some undertrials who were creating a nuisance in the prison were transferred a few days ago. It appears that persons associated with them may have prepared and circulated these documents,” she said.The prison authorities denied the extortion allegations and said recent inspections had led to the seizure of ganja, mobile phones, SIM cards and other prohibited articles.Alok Kumar said the allegations appeared to be an attempt to “add fuel to the fire” following the recent incident in which an undertrial undergoing treatment at MIMS was found with a woman during an inspection.“The role of prison authorities in the incident was very minimal, while the hospital authorities and the security personnel deployed there have a greater role,” he told TOI.He said that if the undertrials had genuine complaints against prison authorities, they could have raised them when he met them personally.“A few days ago, some undertrials who were creating problems were shifted to other prisons. As the prison authorities are taking various measures to maintain discipline, there could be an attempt to tarnish the image of the jail administration,” he said.
