Assam: Prison inmates allege 'more than 95% are COVID-19 positive' in Guwahati Central Jail

Assam: Guwahati jail records massive spike of 184 COVID-19 cases, raises questions on management

The NIA court has granted bail to the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS) leader Manash Konwar, who was arrested for his role in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act movement in Assam.

Konwar was lodged in Guwahati Central Jail since his arrest on December 22^nd, 2019 (case number 13/19) along with KMSS leaders Akhil Gogoi, Dhairjya Konwar, and Bitu Sonowal.

Today was his bail and as such his associated of KMSS went to pick him up in Guwahati Central Jail, Assam. However, he was not been able to release as the jail authorities were apprehensive to get him out with many from the prison already infected from the corona. The KMSS people then were waiting for the formalities to be completed. Speaking to Inside Northeast, Mukut Deka Joint Secretary of KMSS said, "As we were waiting for the formalities which required DC directive, we saw two buses coming to pick up people. All the people were tested with Corona and one of the inmates named Dudul Das threw this letter from the bus to which we immediately clicked a photo".

Also read: Assam: 100 writers demand proper treatment for Akhil Gogoi and co

As per the letter, the inmates have alleged that "more than 95% inside the jail are affected by a coronavirus in the jail in Assam and not all are tested. Nothing has been done to them for the last 40 hours after being tested. Neither treatment nor diet has been given. They have only been taken to the medical then and inside the jail, both positives and negatives are staying together where they are sleeping in 2 feet space. The jail authorities are trying hard to hide". In the end, the letter said, "please save us we are also human beings".