The National Assembly endorsed the Human Rights Committee’s recommendations today, which says all the detention centres in the country will be renovated or expanded.
According to the Human Rights Committee’s Report, increasing number of detainees over the past years is posing challenges in managing the detention centres.
The detention centres of Gelegphu, Thimphu and Phuentshogling are overcrowded, the report said.
“There are no separate detention rooms for women and children and other high risk detainees. Most buildings are too old with cracks on the walls and ceilings, posing risk to the inmates. The perimeter fencing and door bars are also rusted, which can be easily broken,” said Bji Kar-tshog Uesu MP, Kinley Om.
She said the proposed establishment of new facilities will be taken up as overall efforts to strengthen the district police complexes.
The first phase will include construction of a two-storied building each in Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse and Monggar.
A separate detention centre will also be established in Thimphu for detainees of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
It will be established at RBP’s Thimphu office division complex.
The finance minister, Namgay Dorji said RBP will soon come up with a drawing and the estimates and submit it to the finance ministry.
“While estimating we will focus on different category for the young, old, male and female. We will also focus on providing basic toilet facilities for the inmates.”
