3 prisoners on hunger strike in Kannur Jail

Kochi: Three undertrial prisoners lodged in Kannur Central Prison for their suspected links with the Maoists have launched a hunger strike from Thursday protesting against the jail authorities demanding adequate water for their needs. Kalidasan, Unnikrishnan and Ibrahim are the prisoners involved in the hunger strike.

The government and the jail authorities should take immediate steps to resolve the issues highlighted by the prisoners and to end the hunger strike, said Janakeeya Manushyavakasa Prasthanam (JMP), a human rights group.

The prisoners in the 10th block do not have adequate water in the toilet. The prisoners have raised the matter with jail authorities on several occasions in the past one month but they have failed to take any measures to solve the issues, said C.P. Rasheed, secretary of Janakeeya Manushyavakasa Prasthanam.

The jail authorities should end their discriminatory practices against the prison inmates, he said. Ibrahim, a 60-year-old person, was arrested on suspicion of having links  with Roopesh, a Maoist leader arrested from Tamil Nadu four years ago. Kalidas and Unnikrishnan were apprehended from a place near Attappady in Palakkad district for their links with the extremist outfit.