Prisoner ends fast after court assurance, counselling

Following assurances from the court and intense counselling by a battery of lawyers, undertrial Sushil Kumar Dhalasamant today broke his indefinite fast, launched since December 3, inside the Balasore district jail.
"Sushil broke his fast by taking a glass of fruit juice after a dose of oral rehydration solution (ORS) taken in presence of the jail doctor," informed his advocate Prasanna Mohanty, who went to Balasore with a team of lawyers to counsel the UTP.
Sushil had resorted to the hunger strike alleging "harassment by jail authorities" and claiming that his cell and belongings were repeatedly checked by the jail staff. He had also alleged that his winter garments, dry fruits and other belongings were taken away by the jail staff.

Mohanty further informed that Cuttack Sadar sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) on Friday through video- conferencing had assured the fasting UTP that his grievances against the jail staff shall be looked into and those found guilty shall be punished.
Arrested in January this year by the Twin City Commissionerate police along with his elder brother Sushant in connection with a murder case, Sushil was shifted to the Balasore jail from Choudwar jail here in March. Sushant is now lodged in a Bhubaneswar jail.