New jail complex, same old story

Five years after it became functiol, Guwahati Central Jail in Sarusajai is already overcrowded

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Aug 27: Barely five years after it started functioning from its new complex, the North-eastern region’s largest and most modern prison is now saddled with the problems of overcrowding and idequate infrastructure.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 19.86 crore and spread over an area of 63 bighas of land, the Guwahati Central Jail in Sarusajai area of the city was iugurated by then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in April 2010. It, however, formally started to function since 2012 after shifting of inmates from the old jail complex in Fancy Bazar area.

With an accommodation capacity of up to 1,000 inmates (900 males and 100 females), the Guwahati Central Jail is easily one of the most high-profile jails in the region.

The earlier complex in Fancy Bazar, which was set up 1881, was spread over an area of 45 bighas of land. It had a capacity of 507 inmates, but used to accommodate way beyond this number, thereby compelling them to stay in inhuman conditions.

The new jail complex in Sarusajai was taken up as a joint initiative by both the Central and State governments and work was taken up in two phases since 2002-03. It was supposed to provide much-required succour to the inmates.

However, barely 5 years after it was operatiolised, the very purpose for which the new jail complex was built appears to have been defeated.

For instance, as against its capacity of 1,000 prisoners, the jail already has 1,190 inmates as on Sunday. Of these, 1,150 were male and 40 female prisoners. On saturday, the jail housed 1,176 prisoners.

Sources said the number keeps fluctuating as both convicted people and undertrials are brought to the jail almost every day, while a few leave after obtaining bails. There are currently 250 convicted prisoners in the jail serving life terms.

Burdened with prisoners beyond its intake capacity, the jail authority has been forced to accommodate 40-45 inmates in a cell that has a capacity to house only 30. And this has already put pressure on existing infrastructure.

The jail requires over 1 lakh litres of water daily and has its own supply system that is dependent on underground water. However, with one of the two motors meant to pump water from underground lying defunct for quite some time now, the jail authority is hard-pressed to meet the demand for water.

Further, the approach road to the new jail complex and draige system is pathetic. Though the Kamrup (Metro) district administration had announced in 2015 that the road would be repaired, nothing has been done so far. With every downpour, the road becomes awash with slush and mud.

The jail is currently housing several high-profile prisoners, including the likes of United tiol Liberation Front chief RK Meghen, disgraced former Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) members Basanta Doley and Samidur Rahman, former APSC Controller of Examitions Pabitra Koiborto and IndusInd deputy mager Olivia Dutta Choudhury.

According to sources, around 90 militants, including those from the ULFA, NDFB and xalites, are also being lodged in the jail, along with 12 foreigners – one Pakistani and Nigerian each, besides 10 Bangladeshis.