Jail inmates call off strike after 40 hours

RAIPUR: Hundreds of jail inmates at Raipur Central Jail who had gone on 'anshan' while calling their movement 'satyagrah', have called off the protest after 40 hours, on Monday. Heavy security cover of Special Task Force was deployed at the jail to prevent any untoward incident.
Talking to TOI, director general of police (Prisons) Giridhari Nayak said that the inmates made some unrealistic and illegal demands like being served non-vegetarian food, installation of an STD/PCO on premises, permission to consume tobacco and cigarettes, be let to meet family members every day, increase number of barracks and others.
Following district administration's intervention, inmates were convinced to call off the protest. They were assured that many of their demands are already under process and will light of the day while some like permission to consume tobacco and cigarettes are illegal and totally unacceptable, Nayak said. "Their demand to increase number of barracks has already been addressed and expansion in jails across Chhattisgarh is going on. Nearly 40% of jail inmates in Raipur staged the protest. It seems outside elements may have given the idea that led to the strike," he said.
This was the first time that such protest took place in Central Jail, with prisoners making so many demands, raising slogans and refusing to have food. Protest had begun on Sunday, following which jail superintendent Rajendra Gaikwad tried to convince the inmates. However, when his attempts did not bear fruit, DG (Prisons) and DIG were informed.