COVID-19 threat in jails: 78 inmates quarantined

GUWAHATI: The COVID-19 pandemic is posing a systematic threat to the jails of the State. There are as many as 31 jails (including sub jails) in the State and recently two inmates from Guwahati Central Jail and Tezpur Central Jail respectively were tested positive for COVID.

The inmate from Guwahati Central Jail was an undertrial prisoner who was arrested by the Jalukbari Police. He was handed over to the Dispur Police and was produced in the court following which he was sent to judicial remand. After the inmate was tested positive, 4 Dispur Police personnel were quarantined and the jail was declared as a containment zone.

Earlier this week 11 personnel from Hatigaon Police were quarantined after a detainee, who was arrested last week on theft charges, tested positive for COVID. The detainee was produced in front of the court following which he was sent to Tezpur Central Jail as the Guwahati Central Jail was sealed. Later the swab results showed that the inmate is COVID positive and thus as a part of contact tracing, the cops were quarantined.

According to reports, till June 15, 78 undertrial prisioners have been quarantined from various jails. Jail authorities stated that they are sanitizing the jail premises on a daily basis to tackle the outbreak.

Also watch: Evening Bulletin | 16th June, 2020