GUWAHATI, Oct 2 - In a move to separate detention centres from prisons, the State Government has planned to set up three new exclusive foreigners� detention centres in Assam. As per the plan, each of the detention centres would be able to house at least 1,000 inmates at a time.
The Home department has even asked the Revenue department to find suitable locations for the new detention centres in Cachar, Sonitpur and Goalpara districts at the earliest.
At present, all the existing six detention centres in the State are functioning in a makeshift basis on the respective jail premises, which are already overcrowded. This has from time to time drawn criticism from various quarters. Sources at Dispur informed that although the plot for the Goalpara detention centre was finalised earlier this year, the plan has to be dropped after locals expressed dissatisfaction. �We have now asked the deputy commissioner to find another suitable place in Goalpara district,� sources told this reporter.
The Home department, it has been reliably learnt, has asked the Assam Police Border Organisation to prepare a detailed project report and also give an estimate of the total expenses of the project, which will be then sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for approval.
