Jailer held over bribe-for-phones, intoxicants racket in city prison

Guwahati: The jailer of Guwahati Central Jail, Debakamal Bora, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly running a racket involving the supply of intoxicants to inmates and allowing them to use mobile phones in exchange for bribes, police said. The arrest came two days after two police constables were held in connection with the same case.

Bora, who served as assistant jailer in Lakhimpur District Jail in 2023, was posted at Guwahati Central Jail in mid-2024.


Police said Bora was arrested based on the statements of two constables — Kangkan Bora and Debojit Das — who were arrested following an FIR lodged by jail superintendent Pradip Kumar Hazarika accusing them of allowing illegal activities inside the jail premises.

Police sources said the accused allegedly allowed inmates to use mobile phones and intoxicants in exchange of money. The two constables, from the 4th Assam Police Battalion and posted at Guwahati Central Jail, were accused of providing drugs and liquor to inmates in lieu of money.

Charges including ‘extortion’, ‘public servant disobeying direction under law’ and ‘taking gift, etc. to screen an offender from punishment’ under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 have been slapped against the accused, police said.

A police source said they would seek Bora’s police remand for at least five days when he is produced before the court, adding that sufficient evidence has been found against the accused constables and the jailer.

“Further investigation is on to find out the involvement of more people in the network,” a police source said.