Assam Jails Face Rising Overcrowding, Occupancy Rate Crosses 113%

Overcrowding in Assam’s jails has increased significantly, with the overall prison occupancy rate reaching 113% by the end of 2024, up from 105.3% in 2023. Official data showed 11,674 inmates lodged against a total capacity of 10,330 across 31 prisons in the state.

The situation is more severe in district jails, where occupancy touched 130.2%. Male inmate occupancy stood at 117.2%, while female occupancy remained lower at 62.4%.

The report also revealed that Assam jails housed 77 foreign inmates, including several from Bangladesh and Myanmar.