‘988 Foreigners in 6 of Assam’s Detention Centres, 28 Dead’: Govt

“The detention centre has all the facilities and death is not due to any lack of medicine,” said Nityanand Rai.

Caricature of a crowded detention centre. 

(Photo Courtesy: Amnesty India)

Nearly 1,000 foreigners were lodged in six detention centres in Assam and 28 of them had died either in such facilities or in hospitals, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday, 27 November.

Replying to a written question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai said that from 2016 to 13 October 2019, as many as 28 had died either in the detention centres or in hospitals, where they were referred.

“As informed by the government of Assam, as on 22 November 2019, 988 foreigners were lodged in six detention centres in Assam,” he said.

Rai added that according to the information made available by the state government, the detention centres were equipped with all basic facilities, including those related to medical care.

“There have been reports of death of 28 people. The detention centre has all the facilities and death is not due to fear or due to any lack of medicine,” said Rai.

The minister continued, “Basic facilities like food, clothing, daily newspapers, television facilities in every ward, sports facilities, performance of cultural programmes, library, yoga, meditation facilities etc. are provided to the detainees.”

He said that in-door hospital facilities with medical staff were available in every detention centre and health checkups of the detainees were conducted regularly.

In case of complications, doctors referred them to the nearest civil hospitals of the districts concerned and on the advice of the hospital authorities, they were admitted to medical colleges and other health institutes, Rai stated.