Mangalore: From Youthful Living to Prison Life with Hardened Criminals
by Melka Miyar
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
For Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (CN)
Mangalore, Sep 26: The recent communal violence certainly brought out another side of largely peace-loving Mangalorean Catholics. At the same time, the events also made criminals out of many youths who had before then never even seen the inside of a police station, let alone prison. They had to spend many days in jail for the first time ever.
A youth from Derebail, who is a degree student in a reputed city college, was one of these unfortunates. His mother is a central government employee and his elder sister recently completed her post-graduation. The family had never seen to a police station except to complete passport formalities. But over the past few days they had to visit the city sub-jail the youth was arrested on Sunday September 14.
The youngster had just undergone a surgery in Chennai last month as the cornea of his left eye was displaced. Like the other youths, he had participated in the protest in front of Milagres hall on that fateful day. The police got hold of him as he was preparing to leave on his bike after the caning. He claims he did not pelt stones on the policemen.
Twelve cases have been booked against him. Fortunately, the police did not thrash him and he did not face any problems inside prison. The food given to him came from caterers outside the jail and his parents visited him regularly.
Initially, a lot of Catholics were in the prison as many youths from Kulshekar and Vamanjoor had also been brought there after being arrested. However, only 20 persons remained after Wednesday September 17 of whom he was one.
He is not happy with the discriminations that was shown in the jail. According to him, one of the prominent Bajarang Dal leaders was also arrested and lodged in the same jail. But this man received royal treatment from the police. He was allowed to use his mobile phone inside the jail and was always chatting with the jail superintendent in his office.
Normally, 10 to 12 persons are lodged in one cell, which is then locked. However, there were only two persons in the cell where the Bajarang Dal leader stayed. Moreover, prison authorities never locked that cell.
The youngster says that some of those accused of murder were his cellmates and though Hindus, they were friendly with the entire batch of those arrested in the Milagres incident. Bajarang Dal activists lodged in the prison for various reasons, were placed in other cells. They were teasing the Catholics at every available opportunity.
They even tried to get the murder accused to help them in assaulting the Catholics. But the latter refused to co-operate with them and even threatened Bajarang Dal activists of dire consequences if they tried to attack the Catholics, says the youth with gratitude.
Another youth from Pezar Varado had similar experiences. But he describes prison life as a ten-day camp which was a unique experience for him. However, the police have confiscated his cell phone and 15 policemen assaulted him while placing him under arrest near the Netravati bridge on that eventful Sunday. He remembers the driver of the police vehicle very well and the registration number which was ‘KA 19 G 317.’
He gives explosive details of what is going inside the prison. Hemp is sold there at Rs 70 for a pack. Many of the jail inmates use mobile phones and those belonging to the minority community are treated badly. Minorities are not served good food and do not get nice cells. He accused prison authorities of supporting Bajarang Dal activists in assaulting minorities there.
Readers might recall that a prisoner belonging to the minority community was assaulted badly inside the prison on Wednesday September 24. According to the youth, the incident occurred at 10 am when prison authorities were preparing to produce him in court. Normally, the cells are closed at that time, but jail authorities let out Bajarang Dal activists to facilitate their attack on the prisoner.
The youth thanked Elizabeth Neeliyar, noted city lawyer, who helped him fight his case. However, he is saddened that he had to spend time inside the prison for no fault of his. He queries, ‘Don’t we have the right to protest?’
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