On concerns raised regarding incidences of police officials manhandling detainees in prisons, Home Minister Dawa Gyeltshen said that if found guilty, everyone will be dealt as per the existing laws.

Nganglam MP Choida Jamtsho asked the minister of the measures taken by the government to address such incidences at the National Assembly yesterday.

Lyonpo said that a thorough investigation is conducted when such incidences are reported to police or in the media.

He added that according to the prison Act, detainees are provided medical treatment when needed and are allowed to meet their family members. “We are all under law and we will do things according to it.”

If a case is proven, he said that those involved would be dealt in accordance with law. “We have the Royal Bhutan Police Act 2009 and Prison Act 2009 in place.”

Lyonpo said that some of the accusations made are false. For instance, preliminary investigation conducted for the Lungzor prison case found that the allegations the detainee made were false, he said.

However, he added that he received the investigation report recently and would go through it. “If I am not convinced, then an investigation from the ministry will be conducted.”

The case involving a police official and three individuals in Nganglam is also under investigation.

Phurpa Lhamo

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