As many as 250 prisoners of the Bargarh Sub-Jail had to go without food on Wednesday as a group of inmates embarked on a hunger strike pressing for various demands, including permission for smoking ganja in the prison.
Around 10 hardcore criminals out of 250 prisoners launched the stir. As part of the protest, they forcibly shut the kitchen of the jail. As a result, breakfast and lunch could not be prepared and all inmates had to starve throughout the day.
Sources said the prisoners were on the strike demanding the jail authorities to allow them smoking ganja and consume tobacco inside the prison. They also demanded use of mobile phones and permission to meet their families as per their convenience.
Even after intervention of District Judge, the agitating inmates did not relent and continued their stir. But normalcy returned in the evening and the inmates were served food after 7.30 pm, informed Jailer Nilima Kulu.