Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that historic Jorhat Central Jail will be preserved as a heritage site after shifting the prisoners to a new facility.

Dr. Sarma said the state government will preserve the site as a tribute to the country's freedom fighters as part of the celebration of 75th year of India's Independence.

"The state government will preserve the Jorhat Central Jail as a heritage site after shifting the present prison to another place in the district. The government will develop a heritage site in 100 bighas of jail land," he said in an official statement.

Further, during his visit to the jail, Sarma interacted with jail authority as well as a few of the jail inmates and took stock of their grievances.

"The Chief Minister during the visit offered his tributes to these legendary freedom fighters," the release stated. The Jorhat Central Jail, formerly known as Jorhat District Jail, was constructed during the British rule in India in 1909 and was opened in 1911.