Karwar jail turmoil intensifies as inmate gang vandalises tv over denial of tobacco and drugs

Karwar: Tension escalated once again inside the Karwar District Prison after two inmates belonging to the same gang that recently assaulted jail staff vandalised a television set and created chaos allegedly because they were denied access to tobacco and other narcotic substances.

The incident has renewed concerns over rising indiscipline and the growing influence of criminal gangs inside Karnataka’s prisons. According to officials, inmates Kabir and Naushad — part of a gang that includes Mangaluru-based rowdies Mohammed Abdul, Fayan, and Kaushik Nihal — triggered the latest disturbance.

A few days earlier, this very gang had brutally attacked the jailer and three staff members, alleging that they were not provided tobacco. The fresh incident involved smashing the jail’s television set and damaging several other items inside the barracks.

Following the commotion, personnel from the Karwar Town Police rushed to the prison and brought the situation under control. Prison authorities revealed that six inmates from the overloaded Mangaluru jail had recently been transferred to Karwar. These transferred inmates, all of whom have multiple criminal cases including dacoity, are said to be at the centre of the recurring unrest.

Karwar DySP Girish and his team visited the prison after the vandalism and conducted a detailed inspection. Discussions have begun on enhancing security inside the jail and preventing further incidents of violence.

The December 6 attack had already raised alarm after inmates Mohammed Abdul, Fayan, and Kaushik Nihal assaulted the jailer and three staff members for refusing them tobacco and other intoxicants. At least 20 police personnel were required to control the situation.

Reports indicate the same gang had previously caused similar disturbances in the Mangaluru prison. Notably, Fayan had even attempted to attack former Mangaluru Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar during an earlier confrontation.

With Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara jail already under scrutiny over VIP treatment for inmates, the repeated unrest in Karwar jail has once again highlighted lapses in prison administration across the state.

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