Rajbiraj, September 30:

Prisoners in the Saptari district jail have begun a fast-unto-death from today as part of their protest programme demanding general amnesty.

The prisoners, who launched their agitation from September 24 to 28, had earlier warned the government to begin a fast-unto death if their demands were not met. At present 130 prisoners, including two women are on a fast-unto death. The agitating jail inmates have also refused the rations and utensils provided to them by the jail administration.

Prisoners’ Release Struggle Committee coordinator Musru Miyan said the government had turned a deaf ear to their pleas. Jail superintendent Pushp Basnet said an all-party meeting would be held tomorrow to resolve the prisoners’ issues.

Meanwhile, a report from Birgunj said the health of the jailbirds of Birgunj jail who were staging fast-unto-death-hunger strike with the demand for general amnesty for the past nine days is deteriorating.

Five of the male prisoners were falling unconscious frequently. Saline water was given to them yesterday; however, the prisoners took out the saline water this morning. The prisoners, in a statement today, said they will not hold talks with the government until the home minister resigns. The statement issued by Prisoners’ Freedom Campaign Yogendra Ray announced that the prisoners will boycott the CA polls. Prisoners Nara Bahadur Adhikari, Hira Kunwar, Umesh Shah, Harindra Kumar Singh, Firoj Ahamad and Bhawani Kandel are staging the strike since September 22.