60 jailbirds briefly hospitalised

Kathmandu, October 5:

Sixty prisoners at the Dillibazaar Sadarkhor jail, who were among staging a hunger-strike for a week, were taken to the Bir Hospital today as their health condition deteriorated, the jail administration said. All the hospitalised inmates have been brought back to the jail. There are 330 inmates in the jail. About half of them were on a hunger strike to put pressure on the government to meet their demands, including granting of general amnesty.

A doctor at the hospital said they sent back the inmates as the jail has first aid treatment facilities. The jail administration said half of those who fell ill gave up the strike, while others are continuing the strike.

“We are continuing the strike because authorities concerned have not responded to our demands. We will continue the strike till our demands are met,” said Guna Gurung, one of the agitating inmates. Chief of the jail administration Harihar Dahal confirmed the strike, but refused to divulge the details.