Sankhuwasabha, July 4:

Inmates in Sankhuwasabha district jail today launched a fast-unto-death demanding general amnesty.

They had forwarded a nine-point charter of demands and given a seven-day ultimatum to the government to meet their demands on June 27.

The jailbirds said they were forced to launch the strike after the government ignored their demands.

Five of the 46 jail inmates were on strike, said a member of the struggle committee, Rudra Bahadur Karki.

Besides general amnesty, the inmates have been demanding implementation of open prison

system and to make the jail system transparent and scientific.

Other inmates joined the protest by tying black bands on their heads.

Sankhuwasabha CDO Mukunda Adhikari said the local administration was trying to persuade the inmates to call off the stir.