Guwahati: More than 65 inmates at Guwahati Central Jail have reportedly tested positive for HIV, according to sources, with a significant number of those affected facing cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Sources said over 65 prisoners at the jail are currently living with HIV. A considerable proportion of them are reportedly accused in drug-related cases, raising concerns over the health consequences associated with substance abuse.
The circumstances surrounding the HIV infections have not been established. While drug use is suspected to have played a role in some cases, there is no official confirmation linking the infections to a particular mode of transmission.
Details regarding the inmates’ treatment, medical care and current health condition are yet to be made available.
The reported figures have also drawn attention to the need for adequate healthcare, screening and preventive measures for inmates, particularly those involved in cases linked to drug use.