The Assam Human Rights Commission has directed the state inspector-general of prisons to inquire into the allegations levelled by suspended Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed about human rights violation and lack of basic facilities in Guwahati Central Jail and submit a report within a month.

In a December 15 order, released by the commission on Wednesday, AHRC member Deva Kumar Saikia issued a notice to IG prisons after having taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report wherein Ahmed had levelled the allegations.

The sitting Baghbar MLA, who spent around two months in jail recently before securing bail this month, has accused jail authorities of “blatantly” violating human rights of inmates, prison manual and provisions of the prisons Act.

Ahmed also alleged before mediapersons on December 14 that “basic facilities” such as proper medical care, toilets and drinking water were “lacking” in the jail and the inmates were serving their terms in a “deplorable” condition.

He claimed around 2,000 inmates and undertrials were also “suffering a lot” due to lack of adequate health care facilities, while the undertrials have been affected by the lack of proper legal aid service, adding the jail was “understaffed” and the inmates had to work for “considerable period of time”.

Calling for “urgent” prison reforms, Ahmed had also suggested setting up of small scale industries inside the jail to engage the inmates.

The AHRC has listed the matter for January 24.

Ahmed was arrested on October 4 for his “provocative” statements on issues related to the eviction drive in Darrang district.

He was also booked and arrested on October 6 in a corruption case.

Reacting to the development, an official told The Telegraph, “We will submit our report to the commission but that there has been no Covid death till now this year in any of our 31 jails, including Guwahati, should speak for itself about the living conditions inside our jails.”

The official admitted the 1,000-capacity jail here has over 1,500 inmates but this is due to the “sudden rise” in arrest of suspected drug peddlers and land brokers in the ongoing campaign against them.

“But construction is on to increase our capacity. We have also started the process to fill up vacancies,” the official said.

Countering charges of rights violation, the official shared how the IG prisons Barnali Sharma instituted a new initiative from this year called Ashirwad, where children of convicts appearing for their Class X final exams meet their parents, share a meal and seek their blessings in jail.

“Jail authorities give them gifts before they leave. I have not heard about any such initiative elsewhere in the country. We are also setting up an outlet near Khanapara where products made by inmates will be sold. Moreover, AHRC members, district judges make inspection visit to jails. We are trying to improve but one must understand these things take time,” the official said.