Over 50 Tihar jail inmates on hunger strike

Over 50 prisoners in Tihar jail here are on hunger strike against the recent guidelines by prison authorities for treating them differently compared to other inmates.

The recent guidelines issued by Tihar jail director general Vimla Mehra said prisoners in the high security ward should be allowed to interact with their relatives only once instead of twice a week.

"The meeting shall be allowed through the medium of video conferencing," said the guidelines issued Jan 28.

In a letter written Feb 7 to the jail authorities, chief justice of the Delhi High court, district judge of the Tis Hazari court, Delhi chief minister, Lt. Governor and the National Human Rights Commission, the prisoners demanded that they should be allowed to meet their families twice in a week.

The prisoners also demanded an increase in the number of relatives from five to 15.

The fresh guidelines stated only five blood relatives can talk to such prisoners through video conferencing.

The letter said the prisoners will launch an indefinite strike if their demands are not met.