Bengaluru: In the wake of multiple security lapses, including a terror suspect using a mobile phone and videos of inmates partying inside Bengaluru central prison, the govt has approved a prison department proposal to appoint 550 former military personnel as security guards at an annual cost of Rs 20 crore. Alok Kumar, director general of police (prisons), has written to the director of the State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society to initiate the recruitment process. Officials said it will be a temporary arrangement until the govt fills over 1,200 vacant jail warden posts. Ex-servicemen will be deployed to strengthen surveillance, discipline, and overall prison management and correctional institutions. Applicants must be below 45 years of age, capable of completing a 3km run within 20 minutes, meet physical fitness standards, and have no criminal background. Investigations into repeated cases of illegal smuggling of mobile phones, ganja and other contraband into prisons revealed that some people were throwing them into jail premises from outside the compound walls, especially in areas where there were fewer or no guards. It is said ex-servicemen will be deployed at such vulnerable points. The finance department has granted Rule 4(g) exemption under the KTPP Act, bypassing a tender process and allowing direct recruitment on a contract basis. Kumar told TOI that ex-defence personnel will be trained for their new responsibilities. “We will deploy them at places where they do not have direct contact with inmates,” he said. He said the department will assess the effectiveness of the arrangement and submit a report to the govt. Sources said the prison department will deploy 455 ex-servicemen to seven central prisons, including 250 at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. The remaining ex-servicemen will be posted in eight district prisons across the state. Guard railsCentral prison No of posts Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru 250 Kalaburagi 55 Mysuru 45 Ballari 35 Hindalaga, Belagavi 30 Shivamogga 30 Dharwad 10 Source: Prison department
