Assam Probes HIV Cases Among Jail Inmates
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says government will examine how inmates contracted HIV; 226 cases reported across 31 jails
- 226 inmates tested HIV-positive across 31 Assam jails between April and July.
- 202 inmates are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- Around 95% of the reported cases have been linked to injecting drug use, according to sources.
- Sribhumi District Jail reported 11 HIV-positive inmates amid concerns over overcrowding.
GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 31st Aug: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the state government will examine an HIV-positive case reported among jail inmates and determine the circumstances in which the infection occurred.
Sarma said the government has taken the matter seriously and will conduct a detailed examination into how and under what circumstances the person contracted HIV while being in jail. He also said the affected inmate would be provided necessary medical care and treatment.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid reports of an increase in HIV-positive cases among inmates across Assam prisons. According to official sources, 226 inmates in 31 jails tested positive for HIV between April and July, with injecting drug use linked to nearly 95% of the cases.
Of the 226 inmates who tested positive, 202 are currently receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Security-related difficulties in taking some inmates to ART centres have prompted ART teams to visit prisons to provide treatment and related services.
The issue has also drawn attention to conditions at Sribhumi District Jail, where 11 inmates, including one woman, have reportedly tested HIV-positive. The jail currently houses 445 inmates against an approved capacity of just 187, highlighting severe overcrowding.
Jail authorities said most of the HIV-positive inmates at Sribhumi are associated with cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Members of the AIDS Control Committee regularly visit the jail to provide treatment and counselling.
Anwesha Khersha, the magistrate in charge of the jail, said HIV-positive undertrial prisoners are referred to Silchar Medical College for advanced treatment whenever required.
The reported HIV cases have also come amid judicial scrutiny, with Sarma saying that the Gauhati High Court is seized of the issue.
Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal has earlier said that the state has approximately 33,000 active HIV/AIDS patients.
The state government’s proposed examination is expected to focus on the circumstances surrounding infections among inmates, while ensuring continued medical treatment and support for those who have tested positive.
