Over 200 inmates, led by Chhatradhar Mahato, convener of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC), began a hunger strike in the Midnapore Central Prison in West Bengal demanding withdrawal of joint operations by security forces in the Jangalmahal area, officials said here.
The fast, which started on Friday, was being observed by 222 inmates. Of them, 101 were accused in cases of Maoist violence while the remaining were sympathetic to their demands, said B.D. Sharma, Additional Director-General and Inspector-General of Correctional Services.
The inmates said they would continue the fast until they got an assurance from Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh that their demands would be met, Mr. Sharma said.
