Guwahati Central Jail Guards Suspended for Trying to Smuggle in Drugs

GUWAHATI: Two guards posted at the Guwahati Central Jail were suspended from duty on Tuesday after recovery of contraband drugs from their possession, reports said.

The guards, identified as Raju Thakur and Tankeswar Das, were reportedly caught in the act during a routine check at the jail entrance while trying to smuggle in the drugs.

The drugs being carried into the jail have not been identified. The drugs were reportedly found concealed in the bags carried by the guards.

Following the incident, the guards have been suspended till a thorough investigation in conducted.

The latest incident has led to concerns being raised about the state of security in place at the Guwahati Central Jail. The prison located in the outer area of the city is considered to be one of the largest in Assam. A large number of prisoners are housed in the jail.

The jail authorities stated that a thorough investigation into the incident is being conducted.

They have also informed that appropriate action will be taken against anyone found to be involved in such a racket of smuggling drugs into the jail.

Previous inmates of the Guwahati Central Jail, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that such smuggling of drugs and liquor into the jail is an ‘open secret’ and that almost anything can be bought inside the prison at a price. Cigarettes, bidis, ganja, alcohol, guthka are some of the banned items that are smuggled regularly into the jail by unscrupulous guards out to make a fast buck, they said.

The Guwahati Central Jail was in the news in the first week of June, when a 33-year-old inmate lodged at the prison in the city, reportedly died suddenly after falling ill in his cell. The deceased prisoner was identified as one Samar Bishwas.

Bishwas had been lodged at the jail following his arrest in a case filed before the Dispur police. According to sources, the said prisoner suddenly fell ill in his cell, following which he was shifted to the infirmary of the jail for observation.

However, his health deteriorated and he was taken for treatment to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). However, doctors at the GMCH declared him dead on arrival. The illness which resulted in the sudden death of Bishwas, however, remained unclear.

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