Guwahati Central Jail Scam – Involvement of Congress

By – Staff Reporter | Date- November 17, 2011

A widely circulated vernacular daily of Assam, owned by a prominent leader of Congress (I) has reported how an under-trial prisoner escaped from the Guwahati Central Jail at 2:00 am at night yesterday. An investigation from Times of Assam found that the whole news was fake and was made up to suit certain vested political and monetary interest of individuals. Certain other alarming scams were also found to be active inside the walls of the Guwahati Central Jail, kept in dark from the media or common people.

The different scams inside the central Jail:

Scam in Food Supply – It has been alleged that over crores of rupees worth food-scam takes place in not only the Guwahati central jail but also other jails across the state. The ministers to the Jailor are involved in this as they all get a share. The tenants are the ones to suffer most with this scam; unhygienic and terrible quality of food is provided to them. No one bothers about quality of food prisoners get anyway – even human rights activist are found mostly silent. Only exceptions are the political prisoners who get to enjoy comparatively better food.

Scam in Medicines – Similar to the food supply scam, medicine supply to the jails has huge scams hidden underneath. The supply of medicines is alleged to far shorter in reality than the numbers reported in requirement papers. Even worse, complaints of expired and poor quality medicines are reported as well. It is accused that in this scam too, every layer up to the level of the Health minister could be involved.

Jails as Vote Banks – It would sound astonishing. But in reality a lot of politicians from specific parties even use the Jail as a mechanism of vote-banks. Several examples have been reported where poor people from specific communities, mostly Minority Muslims from backward areas, are brought into jail through false or framed-up charges from family members. This is done usually to get medical treatments. Poor families from regions who act as vote banks for specific politicians usually get such benefits under direct covert support from their political leaders. They are brought into jail under petty offences, get full medical treatment under Government norms when in jail and are released off when physical conditions get better!

It was found that the fake news of an under trial prisoner escaping from the jail was done purposely by the concerned Assamese daily so as to put pressure on facilitating transfers of the Supervisor of the Jail. It has been learnt that the owner of this particular newspaper, a Congress leader has several close relatives working as Jailors or other supervisors in different jails. If he can bring one of his close associates to the most profitable Guwahati Central Jail, the share of money from scams in food, medicine and even vote banks comes in bigger numbers.

Unfortunately, it is expected as usual that administration would not take any action because it is run by the same lot of corrupted people.