Jalpaiguri prisoners threaten to continue hunger strike

Siliguri, Sep 15 (UNI) Nineteen prisoners, who are Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation (KLO) and Maoists 'cadres', will continue their hunger strike.

Since September 5, the prisoners have started a hunger strike to demand a speedy sub-judicial trial.

The Supreme Court gave a showcause notice to the Jalpaiguri District Court to know the reason behind the delay in the trial.

After receiving the letter, District Judge Baidyanath Bhaduri and Chief Judicial Magistrate Sampa Dutta met the prisoners and urged them to withdraw the strike.

The prisoners, however, said they are not ready to do so.

''They have been shifted to North Bengal Medical College as their condition is critical. We pleaded to the Supreme Court to expedite trial because the KLO and Maoists prisoners were kept in conviction since last two years,'' said their advocate Sudhanshu Sarkar.

Mr Bhaduri told UNI, ''We have asked them to withdraw the hunger strike as the Supreme Court will look into the matter and the Kolkata High Court had also enquired about the physical condition of the prisoners.'' UNI XC JYN DKB BST1748