Lekhnath, May 16:

Three prisoners of conscience, who have been kept in Kaski the jail and were among those staging a hunger strike since Monday, passed out today.

Shobha Kant Poudel, Mohan Thapa, and Dinesh Subba, who fell unconscious, were admitted to a hospital in Pokhara owing to pressure from rights activists and journalists.

The prison is overcrowded. Our basic needs have not been addressed, other prisoners said, adding their friends had passed out due to lack of proper care. As a result, they fell unconscious, other prisoners said. Acting Chief District Officer of Kaski, Badri Nath Ghimire, today assured the prisoners that they will try to meet their demands within three days. The prisoners broke their strike after the CDO’s assurance.