Twenty-eight KLO undertrials on fast in Jalpaiguri jail

Jalpaiguri, May 13 (UNI) About twenty-eight Kamtapur Liberation Organisation undertrials in Jalpaiguri Central jail have been on fast-unto-death agitation since Saturday demanding speedy trial of their cases, official sources today said.

KLO rebels have been lodged in the jail since the end of 2003 soon after the All Clear Operation launched by the Royal Bhutan government to evict the anti-India rebels from the Bhutan soil.

After their arrests and deportation, they were subsequently lodged in the Central jail, the rebels have been facing trials on the charges of treason and war against the government.

Deputy Inspector General, Jalpaiguri division, Panchanan Biswaas today told UNI that he got a letter on Friday from the KLO men about their agiation and fast for speedy trials.

He said efforts to convince them to end the fast and take food had failed. He, however, said there had been no report of any sickness from the agitating undertrials.

The agitation of the KLO rebels in the jail was led by three senior leaders- Harshabardhan Roy, Bijoy Roy, and Milton Burma, the last one was one of the close lieutenats of KLO Chief Jeevan Singh, now believed to be in Bangladesh.

Another report said 19 more KLO's undertrials, in the same jail, are likely to join the fast.

UNI