Biratnagar, October 8:

The condition of Gopal Rai, one of the prisoners staging a fast-unto-death in the Morang district jail, has become critical, coordinator of the prisoners’ protest Rajesh Chaudhari said. According to Chaudhari, Rai was rushed to the Koshi zonal hospital as his condition became critical.

Rai will not be included in the protest programme on health grounds, Chaudhari said. Demanding general amnesty, the prisoners are on a fast-unto-death for five days. Other prisoners staging the fast-unto-death are Basu Dev, Rishi Dev, Dashrath Chaudhari, Tej Bahadur Basnet and Pradip Rai. Jail sources said their health is also deteriorating.

A team from the regional office of the National Human Rights Commission today took stock of the prisoners’ condition. The team led by regional director of the NHRC, Pradip Kumar Jha, said that the prisoners have vowed to continue their protest and urged the government to heed to the prisoners’ protest immediately.

Another prisoner, Deepak Poudel, urged the government to give the prisoners at least one chance to reform themselves.

Meanwhile, prisoners here are finding it difficult to find sleeping space. A total of 518 prisoners have been putting up at the jail that has the capacity to accommodate 250 prisoners.