BANGALORE : Legal aid will be given to inmates of minority communities who have been sentenced in state-run jails, said GA Bawa, chairman, Karnataka State Minorities Commission.
Addressing a press conference at the Vivi tower on Dr Ambedkar Road in the city on Thursday, he said that many minority community members have been jailed for allegedly being involved in petty cases.
Recently, a team of a Commission members visited Bangalore Central Prision Parappana Agrahara. It is now revealed that 30 percent of inmates belong to the minority community. Many of these people have been imprisoned without legal knowledge, said G.A Bava.
Many of prisoners not been able to fight the law because of poverty. For some, there is no information as to which offence was being punished. GA Bawa said he intends to bring them out in this regard with the help of private, voluntary organizations.
The Minority Commission team visited prisons in every district of the state in the next few days and listened to the problems of prisoners and expressed confidence that necessary action would be taken.
As many as 23 accused have been granted bail by the Bengaluru Central Prison, but are forced to stay in jail as they are unaware of the proceedings and cannot afford legal expenses. The Commission has taken this seriously and said that the facility will be provided in the next few days.
-G. A. Bawa, President, State Minorities Commission.
