Fasting ULFA wives' health deteriorates as they refuse medication

Guwahati, Apr 25 (UNI) The health of the six fasting wives of the 'missing' ULFA leaders deteriorated alarmingly as they refused to be put on life-saving drugs for the third consecutive day even as their fast-unto-death entered the 35th day today.

An associate of the fasting women informed that their health continued to deteriorate as they refused any medical help, declaring that they would rather die of starvation than live on medication.

The government had kept them under preventive custody in the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital and put them on saline drip and life-saving drugs.

The six women had been on an indefinite hunger strike since March 21, demanding the whereabouts of their husbands, who had gone missing since the Royal Bhutanese Army had launched a ''Flush-out'' operation on its soil in December, 2003.

The doctors had earlier refused to tender medication forcibly to the six women, stating that it would only complicate their health situation rather than helping them.

The fasting women had also demanded the resumption of the peace parleys with ULFA, which had concluded unsuccessfully last year.

Meanwhile, health of the 12 members People's Committee for Peace Initiatives in Asom (PCPIA), who had also been on a hunger strike since April 6 as show of solidarity for the ULFA wives, also continued to deteriorate.

PCPIA leader Dilip Patgiri informed that the blood pressure of many of the activists had dropped and they had been put on saline drip today.

'' The administration or the government is yet to respond in any concrete manner, '' he added.

UNI