All News

A team led by the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) Gandaki Province Office conducted monitoring of Syangja District Jail on 8 December in the context of the 76th International Human Rights Day. The monitoring team included Shalikram Regmi, the Undersecretary at the Law Branch of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, Gandaki Province, Tanka Prasad Khanal, the Human Rights Officer at the National Human Rights Commission, Gandaki Province, Shiva Khakurel, Coordinator of the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) Gandaki Province, Keshu Bhujel, Chairperson of the Women Human Rights Defender Network, Kaski, Kunjani Pariyar, Provincial Coordinator of Advocacy Forum, along with other human rights activists, lawyers, and journalists. The team inspected the inmates’ and detainees’ cells. During the monitoring, inmates and detainees complained about the difficulties they faced due to the old physical infrastructure in the jail.

The inmates complained that the government had discriminated by granting release to some and denying it to others. They raised concerns about having to stay with individuals who have chronic illnesses and those with mental health issues, all in the same place. The inmates also mentioned that the state had allocated a small amount of money for their needs. They expressed concerns about being detained for extended periods, with some inmates still awaiting release. Additionally, they raised complaints about children being kept in jail. The inmates highlighted the difficulties they face due to the excessive cold conditions within the facility. The jail, which has a capacity of 65, currently houses 147 inmates, including five women. Among them, six are mentally ill patients. During the inspection, it was found that these mentally ill inmates were being kept in the same area, instead of being placed in separate locations as required.

 

Sanjay Ranabhhat