Jayalalithaa's presence halts welfare work inside Bangalore central prison

BANGALORE: With security in and around Bangalore Central Prison tightened since former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was lodged there, the rehabilitation and counselling of other inmates, especially women, has come to a halt.

Groups involved in helping the inmates are facing problems due to restrictions enforced by prison officials ever since Jayalalithaa was jailed on September 27, said Father Sebastian Vadakumpadan, national coordinator of the Prison Ministry, a voluntary organisation involved in prison welfare.

"We were asked not to carry out our activities the first Sunday following her imprisonment. Now, we are able to enter the gents' section after stringent checks. But the barracks housing female inmates remains inaccessible as NGOs are not allowed inside," Vadakumpadan told ET.

Jayalalithaa, along with three others were convicted in a disproportionate assets case by a special court.