A bird’s eyeview of the Gauhati jail. Picture by Biju Boro

Rekha Goswami,
Silpukhuri

Definitely yes. Modern-day jails are invariably located outside the city as security hazards are minimised.

The Gauhati jail, on the other hand, is located in a crowded area — in fact, right in the middle of a marketplace. God forbid, but if a prisoner manages to escape from the jail, it would be very easy for him or her to mingle with the crowd and get away through the numerous lanes and bylanes that criss-cross the area.

The jail should thus be shifted and a multi-tier parking lot constructed instead for the convenience of the traders of the Fancy Bazar area and shoppers too. This will go a long way in easing traffic congestion and making the city’s main commercial market a better shopping destination.

Jai Shankar Agarwal,
Athgaon

A few decades ago, the location of Gauhati jail was ideal. It was just off the main residential areas, but not too far away. Now, however, with the city bursting at the seams, it has become imperative to shift the jail to a less-populated location outside the city. A busy marketplace just outside the jail walls can be a tempting proposition for prisoners.

Besides, several highrises have come up in the vicinity of the jail. From these buildings, one can easily watch the goings-on inside what should ideally be a high-security zone. In fact, the gallows was shifted precisely because the proceedings inside the jail could easily be seen from outside.

Again, during the rainy season, a part of the jail premises is invariably inundated, causing immense hardship to its residents. The authorities should think of shifting to another site outside the city instead of spending funds in filling up the low-lying areas at the present location.

Nilotpal Deka,
Birubari

During the British Raj, the various arms of administration were always located in a cluster. The district magistrate’s office, the court, the main thana, the main post office, the jail and so on were all located within the radius of a few kilometres for administrative convenience.

If the jail is located near the court and the police stations, ferrying prisoners to and fro does not pose too much of a security risk since the travelling distance is less. On the other hand, if the jail is located outside the city limits, ferrying prisoners across long sparsely-populated distances can pose security risks.

Options for prisoners to stage great escapes also widens. A fallacy has already been committed by cluttering up the area around the court, the thana and the jail with commercial and residential localities. Let no other wrong be done by shifting the jail outside the city.

Moreover, the city is expanding everyday. Two decades hence, the present outskirts will be within the city limits. Will it be wise to keep on shifting the jail from time to time just because the city planners do not have enough foresight?

I think the jail should remain at its present location and steps be taken immediately to upgrade it. High walls should be constructed on all sides, complemented by other safety measures.

Wasim Ali,
Kumarpara

For a central jail, the Gauhati jail, one feels, is not big enough.

Moreover, its location — right in the middle of a crowded commercial area — is also disagreeable, to say the least. Not only is the location risky vis-a-vis jailbreaks, even the people who live in the vicinity of the jail are at risk.

The roads around the jail premises are chock-a-block with highrises from where one can easily see the interiors. This defeats the very purpose of a prison, supposedly a high-security zone.

In case a prisoner manages to escape, he can easily make a getaway by holding the residents of the neighbourhood to ransom. It would thus be best to shift the jail to a more spacious location outside the city.

Leela Choudhury,
Ulubari

The Gauhati jail should be shifted out of the city, primarily to give the prisoners a more humane place to live in.

At present, the prisoners live in cramped quarters and are also at pains as to how to spend their days fruitfully. Occupational opportunities in the present jail premises are limited. There is inadequate space for gardening, one of the most favoured occupations among jail residents.

Moreover, a lot of land inside the jail is low-lying and unfit for cultivation. The prisoners, many of whom spend more than half their lives inside the jail, need recreational and occupational facilities in order to lead humane lives.

Secondly, after having been declared a central jail, the Gauhati prison will now need extra space for expansion which is not possible at the present location. Shifting the jail to a larger area is thus the best alternative.

Karuna Das,
Dispur

The Gauhati jail’s present location, near the court and the main police station, is ideal. If police stations and courts are far away from the jail, there is always a possibility of prisoners making good their escape while moving between the prison and the police station or court. Bollywood films that depict such getaways are not a figment of imagination but a strong possibility. On the other hand, a prisoner wishing to escape from the present jail will find it difficult to get past so many people, mostly residents of the neighbourhood. Someone or the other is sure to catch up with the escaping prisoner.

Escaping in a vehicle will also pose a problem because most of the roads in the area are either one-way or chock-a-block with vehicles. So, instead of shifting the jail to some place outside the city, steps should be taken to improve the present premises.