GUWAHATI, July 16 - The Coordination Committee Against Citizenship Amendment Act today expressed concern over the condition of inmates at the Guwahati Central Jail in view of the present COVID-19 situation.
Referring to the �ambiguity� surrounding the COVID-19 test of peasant leader Akhil Gogoi and other anti-CAA leaders at the Central Jail and subsequent reports of a number of jail inmates testing COVID positive, the committee alleged that the State government is compromising on the health and safety of the inmates.
�If the treatment of a political prisoner like Akhil Gogoi can be delayed and his COVID status can be kept ambiguous for a long time, we can very well imagine the condition of the other general prisoners,� committee president Dr Hiren Gohain and convenor Deben Tamuly stated.
�The letter of jail inmate Dudul Das and the statement of student leader Manas Konwar, who has come out on bail, have exposed the condition inside the jail premises, including violation of COVID protocol, absence of basic medical treatment facilities, substandard food and high prevalence of fever, headache, cough and similar symptoms among inmates. A thorough probe should be carried out on the present condition of Guwahati Central Jail and other jails of the State and the treatment being provided to the inmates therein,� the committee said.
�As it is being alleged that 95 per cent of the inmates might be affected by COVID 19, immediate action is required on this matter,� the committee added.
The committee also asked the State government to ensure basic human rights, right to food and right to health of the jail inmates.
