The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of jeopardising national security after a video emerged from Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, allegedly showing an ISIS operative enjoying VIP treatment within the high-security facility.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared the footage on X, highlighting serious concerns over prison management. “A chilling video from Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Jail exposes how ISIS recruiter Junaid Hameed Shakeel Manna enjoys VIP treatment inside a high-security prison, using mobile phones and watching television freely,” Malviya wrote. He claimed the incident reflects a broader administrative failure under the Congress government in Karnataka.

According to Malviya, the accused ISIS operative, who is said to have radicalised youth, maintained constant contact with his network outside the prison. “This is not an isolated incident. From rowdy-sheeters to murder-accused celebrities, VIP treatment in Karnataka’s prisons has become routine,” he alleged. The BJP leader argued that prisons, which are meant to enforce punishment, have effectively become “comfort zones for terrorists and criminals,” posing a direct threat to national security.

The video, reportedly filmed on November 8, has sparked widespread outrage. Sources suggest that Manna had access to a smartphone and was using it freely within his cell. The footage also allegedly shows high-profile inmates, including Umesh Reddy and Tarun Raju, enjoying privileges that are inconsistent with standard prison regulations.

In response to the controversy, Karnataka’s Director General of Prisons, B. Dayananda, ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter. Officials have been directed to verify the authenticity of the footage and to investigate any possible lapses in prison management.

The incident has reignited debates over the security and oversight of correctional facilities in the state. 

Karnataka has previously faced scrutiny for allegations of preferential treatment for certain inmates. Activists and political leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the management of prisons, particularly regarding high-profile criminals and individuals involved in organised crime. The latest video has added weight to these long-standing criticisms.

Malviya and the BJP have called for immediate accountability, stressing that any lapses in security could have serious repercussions for national safety. 

The Congress government has maintained that all prisons in Karnataka operate under strict guidelines and that the state takes national security concerns seriously. 

The probe is underway.(With inputs from Agencies)