Judge admits human rights violation in Dibrugarh jail

DIBRUGARH, July 29: The district and sessions judge here, Dibakar Hazarika admitted that there is gross human rights violation in the Dibrugarh jail, and has accordingly taken steps to remedy the ills which have become rampant there. The Assam Tribune reported the anomalies in the jail here on July 12, following which efforts are on by the top judicial officer to find a solution to the malaise in the local jail. Towards this objective, Hazarika has summoned the jailor here, Nripen Bora, to explain the discrepancies in the jail, but he has been unable to reply to the allegations of torture and underfeeding of the inmates. In the absence of a jail superintendent - this post has been lying vacant at the Dibrugarh jail for quite some time now - it is Bora who is also the officiating jail superintendent. Hence, he is having a free run over affairs at the prison. It is learnt that the state Inspector General of Prisons too had expressed serious displeasure at the way Bora is running the prison here. But due to some strange reason, even this senior official finds his hands tied to take action on his erring junior colleague. Under the circumstances, it is now the district judge here who finds himself saddled with the enviable task of rectifying matters at the local jail. The last time when Hazarika personally inspected the living conditions of the prison inmates here, several inmates informed him of the lawlessness inside the prison. The judge said he later came to know that all the complainants were subsequently beaten up by Bora and his peoples for having the temerity to complain. However, the learned judge, after satisfying himself of the inhuman conditions of the prison inmates, has written to the higher authorities, recommending suitable measures. Despite all this, the higher authorities are yet to respond to the recommendations in the speed these should have come through. The only comfort is that with a senior judicial officer taking up the matter, justice to the 1300 odd inmates of the district jail can be expected sooner than later.