GUWAHATI, July 10 - Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia has called upon the State government to ensure that all undertrial prisoners are provided medical check-up and treatment in accordance with the Supreme Court�s directive and subsequently allowed to return to their homes in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The senior Congress leader has sent a letter to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in this matter.
�... in view of the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court had directed all the state governments to release prisoners so that they can go back home. Most of the prisoners were consequently released, but in spite of such a directive, political prisoners like Akhil Gogoi are still being kept in prison. As such, I request you kindly to reconsider the matter and ensure that all undertrial prisoners who have not yet been convicted by any court of law, including political prisoners, are sent for medical check-up/treatment in accordance with the Supreme Court�s directive and subsequently allowed to return to their homes,� Saikia stated in the letter.
He added that KMSS leaders Dhairjya Konwar and Bittu Sonowal, who are lodged at the Guwahati Central Jail, have tested positive for COVID-19.
�It is unfortunate that the authorities who are keeping prisoners are not trying to give proper medical care in spite of complaints made by family members and well-wishers of the detained persons that they are feeling unwell. The authorities had taken the decision to do COVID-19 tests only after the (NIA) court�s directive... The government should set up an enquiry commission to find out how COVID-19 has spread in the Guwahati Central Prison when no outsider/family member has been allowed to meet the detainees since a long time on the plea that they may get infected by COVID-19,� Saikia stated in the letter.