A group of 13 Sri Lankan Tamils housed in the Special Camp in India went on an indefinite fast demanding their release, The Hindu newspaper reported. Another inmate R. Mahendran is on fast from March 26 on the camp situated a few metres from the Central Prison in support of the same demand.
Police sources told The Hindu that the 13 Lankan Tamils against whom cases were pending launched the indefinite fast in the morning. Three among them - T. Jayadharan, A. Anandhan and A. Kumaraguru – were shifted to the Tiruchi Special Camp from Cheyyar Special Camp recently. The other fasting inmates include N. Bhageedharan, P. Ilangainathan, S. Vijayakumar, G. Rajendran, R. Pradeepan, S. Sireeswaraja, and M. Pradeep.
The Tiruchi camp accommodates 16 Sri Lankan Tamils and a Nigerian. The sources said barring two Lankan Tamil inmates Dhayabararaj and Yugapriyan, the remaining were on fast.
Confirming that the inmates were on fast, Regional Special Deputy Collector (Refugee Camps) S. Natarajan said the inmates demanded their release and if that was not possible at least their family members should be allowed to stay with them in the camp.
-Agencies
