Important cases: 1. Shocking cases of undertrial neglect in Tezpur Mental<br> Hospital comes to the attention of the NHRC

The Commission has issued notices to the IG (Prisons) and Chief Secretary, Assam asking them to submit reports of 5 undertrial prisoners presently lodged at the LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam.
The five cases are that of Machang Lalung who has been a undertrial prisoner for 54 years, Khalilur Rehman who has been lodged in the Mental Hospital for 35 years, Anil Kumar Burman a undertrial prisoner for 33 years, Sonamani Deb a undertrial prisoner for 32 years and a woman Parbati Mallik who has been a undertrial prisoner for 32 years.
The plight of these undertrial prisoners was reported to the NHRC by its Special Rapporteur Shri Chaman Lal who had visited the LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health on 31 March and 1 April 2005. While the State Government is yet to respond, the media has reported that Lalung has now been set free.