Mizoram’s correctional facilities are grappling with significant overcrowding, with the current inmate population exceeding total capacity by over 15 per cent. In a written response to a recent Assembly question, Home Minister Pu K. Sapdanga revealed that while the state’s 11 functional jails, including the Central Jail, Central Women Jail, and nine District Jails, are designed to house a maximum of 1,496 inmates, the actual population stood at 1,720 as of February 5. The data highlights a critical situation in Aizawl’s primary facilities.
The Aizawl Central Jail, originally built to accommodate 480 inmates, is currently housing 859, operating at nearly double its intended capacity. Similarly, the Central Women’s Jail is overextended with 122 inmates against a capacity of 96, while the Aizawl District Jail holds 131 individuals despite being designed for only 90. The overcrowding extends to the border districts as well. Champhai District Jail currently houses 165 inmates, significantly higher than its capacity of 105.
Conversely, the Minister noted that five district jails are currently operating below their maximum occupancy. Most notably, the Saitual District Jail, which has the infrastructure to house 68 inmates, was reported to have zero occupants as of early February.
Overall, the state is currently maintaining 224 more prisoners than its official infrastructure was built to support, raising concerns regarding prison management and inmate welfare.
