Kannur: Three undertrial prisoners in the Kannur central prison, Kerala have started a hunger strike in the jail against the jail authorities. The three undertrials were allegedly lodged in the jail for suspected links with the Maoists.

The undertrials, Kalidasan, Unnikrishnan and Ibrahim, started the hunger strike demanding adequate water for the needs in the jail. Meanwhile, a human rights group member Janakeeya Manushyavaskasa Prasthanam said that the government and jail authorities should take immediate steps.

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The secretary of Janakeeya Manushyavakasa Prasthanam CP Rasheed said to media that the prisoners in the 10th block do not have sufficient water in the toilet. The prisoners have raised the concern with jail authorities several times in the past one month. But they have failed to take any measures to solve the issues. 

He also added that the jail authorities are displaying an attitude of discrimination among the prisoners and the authorities should stop this act. 

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Meanwhile, the Kannur prison authorities said that they are unaware about the Maoist strike and said that there are no such issues as the prisoners allege. They also added that the prison authorities are bringing more water needed for the prisoners from outside too.  

The 60-year-old Ibrahim was arrested on suspicion of having contacts with Roopesh, a Maoist leader who was arrested in Tamil Nadu four years ago. The other prisoners Kalidas and Unnikrishnan were arrested from a place near Attappady in Palakkad district for their links with the extremist outfit.

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