Life convicts call off fast

Cuddalore, Sep 16 (UNI) Fourteen life convicts, who launched an indefinite fast in the central prison here demanding their release, called it off today, following an assurance that their demands would be forwarded to the Tamil Nadu government.

The convicts, who began the fast yesterday, gave up the stir this evening after the Cuddalore Tahsildar assured them of forwarding their demands to the government.

They were demanding their release on the occasion of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C N Annadurai's birth anniversary yesterday.

The government had announced the release of 472 life convicts, including 16 women, who had completed ten years of imprisonment, to mark the occasion. About 55 convicts, who had completed ten years in prison, were released from the Cuddalore jail last evening following the government's order.

(Ed: pick up suitably from earlier series) UNI XR GV SAM BST1912