Assam: Another Man Lodged in Detention Camp Dies, Toll Rises to 29

Goalpara, January 4, 2019:

Amid the nationwide debates about detention camps in Assam, a man lodged in a detention camp died at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Guwahati, Assam, on January 3, 10 days after he had been admitted due to ill health.

With this, 29 people who were lodged in detention centres across Assam have died till now. Nearly 1,000 people are lodged in such centres across the centre.

Another man, Dulal Paul, who had been in the detention centre in Tezpur since October 11, 2017, had died at the same hospital in October. Paul was a resident of Alisinga village of Sonitpur district, and was admitted to the hospital on September 28.

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According to media reports, Assam has six detention centres housed in district jails. An exclusive camp is under construction in Goalpara.

According to government data, 28 persons declared as ‘illegal foreigners’ by Assam’s Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) and lodged in detention camps have died in the last three years.

In July, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary had said that a total of 25 persons have died in the six detention camps of Assam.

The minister’s response said that seven people died in 2018 and 2019 (till July), six in 2017, four in 2016, and one in 2011. The reason for all the deaths is mentioned as “due to illness”.

As per data presented by the Minister, apart from two persons, who were reportedly from Bangladesh, all others who died in the camps were from Assam.

Patowary had said that the people in detention camps had died due to illness, and these people lodged in detention camps were admitted to hospitals after which they died. Patowary had also confirmed that none of the bodies were sent back to Bangladesh.

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