A three-member team of the review panel constituted by the Assam government visited the Tezpur detention centre on November 2nd, 2019. The team headed by Devojyoti Mukherjee, DIG (Border), Assam Police informed that as per Supreme Court’s order, the declared foreigners who have completed three years in the camp will be released from November 4th, 2019 onwards.

The team comprising of Mukherjee, Barnali Sharma, IG of Prisons, Assam and retired district judge Justice Harmit Singh today met the detainees of Tezpur detention camp and took stock of the prevailing situation.

Based on the apex court’s order the DIG Border informed that the border police has submitted the first list of the detainees who will be released on Monday to the state government.

“We have to follow the guidelines set by the Apex court. We have come here to take feedback from the inmates on their economic, health, hygiene, education conditions. Based on our inspection, we will make a consultative report within three months and submit the same to the government,” said Mukherjee while addressing the media.

It may be mentioned that the Assam government has constituted a Special Review Committee to review the conditions prevailing in the six detention centres of the state. This order came surrounding the controversy over the death of two ‘foreigners’ following poor health conditions and their families refusing to accept their bodies.

Reports claimed that over 1,000 declared foreigners are currently housed in the six detention centres in Assam. As per the order, the detainees who have completed three years in the detention centres will be set free on conditions which include – a verifiable address, payment of Rs 1 lakh each, submission of biometric information and they need to report to a local police station every week.

Photo: Amal Nath