Ajmer: 44 hardcore criminals are on hunger strike for volleyball court, phone

Forty-four inmates of the high security jail in Ajmer are on a hunger strike demanding facilities like TV, a volleyball court and phone facility.

12 of those sitting on the hunger strike since Thursday last have been hospitalised.

The jail houses only hardcore criminals and one of the grouses of the prisoners is that petty criminals are also lodged in the facility, jail sources said.

"Nearly a dozen are admitted to a hospital on medical advice. Blood investigations are being done and if required they will be fed intravenously.

"44 had gone on hunger strike demanding luxuries in the jail. Only hardcore criminals are lodged in the high security jail. It is unjust to demand TV in cells, volley ball court and PCO," Additional Director General of Police (ADGP Jail), Ajit Singh said.

He said Public Call Office (PCO) and TV will connect them to the outside world and help them pass on information whereas volley ball will lead to "scuffle among inmates".

The district administration officials have tried to convince the inmates to withdraw the strike but they have remained adamant.

The Jail superintendent's efforts to persuade the inmates also did not bear fruit.

The ADGP (Jail) said, "We continuously review the behaviour of jail birds and following positive feedback they are shifted to general jails. It is a routine process. In the last review we had shifted eight jail inmates from high security jail to general jails".

Currently, there are 70 hardcore criminals lodged in the high security jail.