Recent incidents in Tamil Nadu prisons have raised public concerns over security lapses and the state’s diminishing control over high-risk inmates, including those accused of terrorism and murder.
Hindu Munnani has appealed to both the state and Union governments to establish an exclusive prison for individuals convicted under UAPA, terrorism charges, and other serial crimes. The organisations emphasise the need for stricter measures to ensure effective monitoring and containment of such convicts, citing the potential risks posed by their activities within the current prison system.
A few days ago, Asif Mustaheen (30), a resident of Manickampalayam in Erode district, caused a stir while serving judicial remand at Coimbatore Central Prison. Arrested for alleged links with ISIS after being questioned by the NIA following a raid on his house in July 2022, Asif was involved in a new incident in December 2023. The Race Course police filed a case against him for drawing ISIS flags on paper and threatening the central prison jailor, Sivarajan. In January 2024, Asif was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, with his formal arrest occurring in December 2023.
Earlier, Asif Mustaheen caused a disturbance at Coimbatore Central Prison after demanding newspapers and quarrelling with the jail staff. When there was a delay in receiving the newspaper, Asif, growing impatient, exited his cell without permission. The jailors attempted to stop him, but he insisted on speaking with higher officials regarding his cases. Despite warnings to return to his cell, Asif attempted to escape, and his cellmate, Abdul Saleem, a convict from Kanyakumari, joined him. Both inmates ran toward the entrance in an escape attempt. When the police intervened, the two attacked the jailors, causing injuries to the abdomen. Jail warder Manoranjitham filed a complaint at the Race Course police station.
In 2023, Asif had previously threatened Jailor Sivarajan, claiming he would soon be released and join ISIS as a Jihadi. He had also drawn an ISIS flag in his cell and warned the jailor that both he and the prison would be wiped out. A case was filed in response to these threats.
In Chennai’s high-security Puzhal prison, Police Fakruddin, a suspected terrorist, allegedly threatened jail staff, claiming his associates outside would harm them. The incident occurred during a surprise check for mobile phones, narcotics, and arms. Fakruddin became agitated, quarrelling with jail officials before making the threat. A complaint has since been filed with the Puzhal police.
In 2015, following the receipt of letters sent by a base movement in the name of Al-Qaeda to Madurai and Vellore central prisons, Fakruddin, along with Panna Ismail and Munna, was transferred from Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, and Vellore to other prisons after an assault on prison warders.
Panna Ismail and Bilal Malik, arrested on terrorism charges and lodged in Puzhal Central Prison, have reportedly attacked the prison superintendent, Senthil Kumar, on multiple occasions. Both are members of the banned Al Ummah terrorist group. Despite these assaults in 2019, no formal case has been filed against them. The duo has also reportedly demanded daily servings of biryani, mutton, and chicken, threatening jail staff with consequences if their demands were not met. They have even attempted hunger strikes in protest.
Fakruddin, a bomb blast accused and incarcerated in Puzhal since 2018, allegedly issued threats to Deputy Commissioner Syed Jawed when the latter inspected his cell. A case has been filed in this regard.
In a separate incident, Additional Director of Police for prisons, Maheshwar Dayal, suspended 11 jail staff, including sub-jailor Selvaraj, assistant jailor James Britto, and head warders Udhayakumar, for failing to prevent mobile phone use during a surprise inspection at Poonamallee Prison. During the inspection, officials uncovered mobiles buried inside the prison block. The suspended staff failed to stop the illegal use of mobile phones and other banned gadgets. Reports indicate that two inmates, Baskar and Karthikeyan (who are held in a ganja case), were using mobile phones in their cells. Seized items reportedly included two smartphones, five mobiles, a charger, a sim card, a battery, ganja, and cash.
This marks the second surprise inspection at Poonamallee Prison, and police are now investigating how inmates acquired mobile phones and who assisted them.
In a statement, Hindu Munnani highlighted alarming incidents within Puzhal Prison, where prisoners with links to extremist groups attacked Jailor Illavarasan during an inspection of the cells of Bilal Malik, Panna Ismail, and others. Despite authorities seizing phones from these fundamentalist inmates, they reportedly issued threats of dire consequences. The next day, they allegedly revealed details about the jailer’s residential address and the names of his children’s schools, demonstrating their ability to intimidate officials from inside their cells. Hindu Munnani noted that such threats have become routine.
The statement also referenced the 2018 killing of Farooq in Coimbatore, who was murdered for criticising Islam. Furthermore, one of the witnesses in the case has been threatened into silence, prompting authorities to provide him with police protection.
Hindu Munnani President Kadeswara Subramaniam has appealed to the Central Government to bring prisons under its direct supervision, urging authorities to gather information on visitors and subject them to thorough review. He also called for the establishment of exclusive prisons for anti-national terrorists, who are believed to be operating from within their cells using mobile phones.
In a tweet, Hindu Munnani demanded that the cases involving the killings of Hindu leaders, including Auditor Salem Ramesh, Vellaippan, Paramakudi Murugan, and Palkadai Suresh, be handed over to a central investigative agency, as Islamic fundamentalists involved in these cases have reportedly refused to cooperate with the trial.
விசாரணைக்கு மறுக்கும் இ*ஸ்லாமிய பயங்கரவாதிகள்.!
இந்து மத தலைவர்களான வெள்ளையப்பன், ஆடிட்டர் ரமேஷ், பரமக்குடி முருகன், பால் கடை சுரேஷ், ஆகியோரை இஸ்லாமிய அடிப்படை வாதிகள் படுகொலை செய்த வழக்கில் விசாரணைக்கு ஒத்துழைக்க பயங்கரவாதிகள் மறுப்பு.
தமிழக அரசே முறையாக விசாரணையை நடத்திடு.!… pic.twitter.com/DZ2RRVld4i
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) December 12, 2024
It is important to note that both the AIADMK, DMK and their allies, including VCK and left-wing parties, have passed a resolution in the State Assembly recommending the premature release of Muslim prisoners, including those involved in bomb blasts and terror attacks.
