Assam: Kokrajhar jail authority goes for COVID test of inmates after outbreak in Guwahati prison

The Kokrajhar district administration, Assam, and the district jail authority conducted a swab collection drive for the jail inmates and the jail staff on July 16th, 2020. This was carried after the COVID-19 outbreak in Guwahati Central Jail, which raised questions on the part of the government in protecting the Right to Health of the prisoners.

The medical staffs from Kokrajhar Rup Nath Brahma civil hospital took swab samples of the jail inmates and district jail officials during the drive. However, no one was reported COVID-19 positive among the inmates till filling of this report.

There are a total of 326 inmates in the district jail. Swab of the inmates and the jail staff including jailor, and assistant jailor were collected.

Notably, 189 persons have been detected COVID-19 positive in the district till date, among them 29 are active and 160 persons have been recovered from the affected.

Also read: Assam: COVID-19 patients take to streets alleging ‘no-food’ in care centre

Additional deputy commissioner(ADC), Kokrajhar and in-charge of district jail, Pranjal Das told that the swab testing drive has been initiated by the district administration to get rid of COVID-19 free environment inside the jail. He informed that all inmate and district jail officials would be checked health status.

Meanwhile, around 45 inmates of the Guwahati Central Jail including KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi, Bitu Sonowal and Dhajya Konwar, who were arrested for their role in anti –Citizenship Amendment Act movement in Assam in December 2019, were tested positive for the COVID-19. All the KMSS leaders are currently undergoing treatment at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

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