The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has drawn attention to the alarming situation that has arisen among the inmates of the prisons and the security personnel and staffs working for the security of the prisons.
It has been mentioned in the statement issued by the Commission on August 26 that it has taken information from the Department of Prison Management regarding the increasing infection of COVID-19 in Kathmandu Central Prison and prisons of Banke, Sunsari, Siraha and Parsa. The commission has stated that there are more than 21,000 inmates in 71 prisons of the country at present.
According to the commission, most of the country’s prisons are overcrowded for a long time. With the spread of COVID-19, a large number of inmates in the prisons felt insecure and requested the commission for the protection of health and life.
The Commission urges the Government of Nepal to be highly vigilant in ensuring the health of the inmates, security personnel, and staffs in the overcrowded prisons as they are sensitive to the spread of COVID-19.
The commission has also stated that there is a possibility of infection even after the PCR test of the new prisoner. The commission has suggested that the new inmates be kept separate from other inmates for a certain period of time.
The statement issued by the Secretary and Spokesperson of the Commission, Ved Bhattarai, has requested to the Government of Nepal to protect the health and right to life of the inmates.