Tensions in Melrose: NHRC Report Contested

Tensions in Melrose have resurfaced following the release of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report concerning incidents that took place on July 17 at the high-security prison in Melrose. The report has sparked controversy, with accusations of violence and a defense of prison protocols.

On Tuesday, during the show "At the Heart of the News" on Radio Plus, hosted by Murvind Beetun, former journalist and NHRC member Tooria Prayag reiterated her confidence in the report’s findings, condemning the excessive use of force.

"The Commission relied on CCTV footage from the prison and testimonies from inmates," she explained. "All cameras were operational, and we witnessed excessive force: naked inmates being beaten on the ground. Why should we resort to beating?"

While Tooria Prayag acknowledges that the initial report lacks detail, she believes its content remains useful and revealing. She calls for structural reforms and highlights issues at the Beau-Bassin central prison: "There are inmates who have been locked up for over nine years, and the living conditions are unsanitary: three toilets for 150 inmates in one yard, and they are not clean... This prison needs to be closed."

Dev Jokhoo, the prison commissioner, defends the management of the incidents and downplays the report. "The report is critical yet constructive, but these incidents have been fabricated since July 8. Managing the situation on July 17 was challenging," he asserted. He emphasized that specific protocols guide the neutralization of inmates, particularly to check for hidden drugs or weapons. "It’s a military practice, it’s mandatory," he insisted.

Hanson Mungrah, representing the Prisons Officers Association, also criticized the report and announced plans to contest it in court. "Yes, there are shortcomings, but we have nearly a thousand inmates at Melrose. Searches are mandatory, and some guards are not beyond reproach, but that’s part of the protocol. We ourselves are searched," he explained.

Tensions escalated when Linley Couronne from the NGO Dis-Moi accused prison commissioner Dev Jokhoo of "dodging the issue." He defended the NHRC’s methodology, which was based on hundreds of hours of video and inmate testimonies. "There was a false affidavit sworn by an inmate regarding assault, but it’s up to the justice system to decide," he noted.

Commissioner Jokhoo emphasized the complexity of prison management: "In a prison, it's not easy to control everything. There are collateral damages, and I thank Tooria Prayag for calming the relatives of the inmates."