SINDHUPALCHOWAK: Chautara prison inmates take it in turns to sleep due to the lack of space.

Eighty-four prisoners, including three women, have been housed in the jail meant for 42 persons. A single room accommodates as many as 16 of them.

Dambar Bahadur Thing, leader of the prisoners, said nine convicts had been jailed in a month’s time.

The inmates informed the jailer about the problem, but to no avail.

The convicts are aware that prisons should be rehabilitation centres, far better than common Nepali jails. According to Thing, the library is overcrowded with prisoners. “As the prison runs out of its capacity, we are facing numerous problems,” he added.

Other inmates have accused the jail administration of doing nothing to improve the state of affairs. The prison management has taken in even a mentally retarded convict. Jailer Sashisekhar Thaku said he got no response when he informed higher officials about the situation last month. The prison is also reeling under water, toilet and sanitation problems.

Twenty-one guilty were imprisoned in the district last year alone. District Police Office predicts a further increase in their number considering the rising criminal activities. “A serious problem can erupt if some of the prisoners are not transferred at the earliest,” the jailer said.