Mismanaged Jaleswor prison in chaos

By Rabindra Upreti,Bardibas, Dec. 28: Jaleswor prison is infamous for numerous problems, irregularities and inconsistencies due to mismanagement and neglect.  

The 135-year-old Rana-era facility is plagued by disrupted services, deteriorating infrastructure and chaotic conditions. Meanwhile, the number of inmates has steadily increased, with the prison now housing more than three times its capacity.

The state and condition of a country’s prisons are often considered a reflection of its level of humanity. Considering this, the condition of Jaleshwar Prison is disheartening. 

According to prison Chief Dhananjay Prasad Das, the facility, with a capacity for 135 inmates, currently houses 538 prisoners. Despite having a prison in their district, female inmates and their families endure several hardships when transferred to Sindhuli for pre-trial detention and sentence execution. 

According to prison’s information officer Rabin Thakur, female inmates have been sent to Sindhuli since Ashar 2021. Since then, male inmates have also been housed in the women’s section. 

Even combining both sections, the prison can accommodate only 200 inmates, forcing the excess prisoners to live in overcrowded conditions.

According to Manju Khatiwada, the head of the Research Division at the National Human Rights Commission, the condition of the prison violates international human rights law.

She said, “Nepal’s law guarantees the rights of prisoners. The state must ensure these rights. The situation at Jaleshwar Prison is a direct violation of human rights law.”

On Sunday morning, Nisar Sunuwar suddenly experienced chest pain and was admitted to the Jaleshwar Regional Hospital. Shortly after being admitted, he passed away. 

According to the doctors, the cause of death was a heart attack.

As informed by the prison administration, Nisar Sunuwar had been in custody since July 5, following a district court order in connection with a brown sugar drug case. According to Police Superintendent Nakul Pokhrel, the death of Sunuwar is under investigation.

He stated, “We have heard that the death was due to a heart attack. An investigation will be conducted once the post-mortem report arrives.”

According to the prison administration, there had been another death at the prison before this.

While there is a long list of deaths, no authorities have yet looked into the causes, and the lack of attention to the matter has violated the right of inmates to life. 

Those who have served time and returned from prison have expressed their suffering.

Rights activists have pointed out that overcrowding at Jaleshwar Prison has also infringed upon the health and other rights of the inmates.

Their daily life is extremely difficult. Dr. Rajiv Jha, Director of the Madhes Province Health Supply Management, stated that the overcrowded living conditions negatively affected their health. He explained that overcrowding leads to issues such as space shortages, noise pollution, insomnia and poor sanitation, all of which harm both physical and mental health.

Dr. Jha added, “Overcrowding can also be a breeding ground for diseases. It increases the risk of respiratory infections, skin diseases, tuberculosis and eye infections. On the mental health front, it can cause stress, depression and an unhealthy mindset. This situation could also contribute to heart problems.”

Prison Chief Dhananjay Prasad Das also mentioned that 5-6 inmates are currently suffering from tuberculosis, and treatment is underway. 

The number of inmates with skin diseases is also significant, and respiratory issues are prevalent.

Under Section 6 (5) of the Prison Act 2079, the responsibility for the maintenance, coordination, and security of prisons within a district lies with the Chief District Officer (CDO).

Chief District Officer Lal Babu Kawadi has stated that he is fully aware of the poor conditions at Jaleshwar Prison. However, he mentioned that there is no option but to build a new prison to address the problems. The process for this has already started.

CDO Kawadi said, “We are working on land management for the new prison structure. We have also reached an agreement with the Jaleshwar Municipality Development Committee for this.”

“Once we resolve a few issues regarding land acquisition, we will proceed to the construction phase. After that, we believe the problems caused by the dilapidated buildings and overcrowding will be resolved in the long term.”