India: Maoist leader Dunna Keshav Rao alias Azad dropped his indefinite fast

Accepting the request of ADG (Jail) Arun Ray, Azad called off his fast which was going on for the last 21 days. Azad’s associates Kamalakant Sethi and Asutosh Soren also ended their fast, said sources.

Azad and his six fellow inmates had been hospitalised in the Capital Hospital on April 6 after the condition of them turned serious as they have been on a hunger strike for the past few days. Later, under deteriorating health condition Azad and few others were shifted to SCB Cuttack.

Notably, Azad was lodged in the Jharpada Circle Jail here from 2011 and it was his fourth fast inside the jail in the past five years demanding fulfillment of the five point charter of demands which includes speedy trial, status of a political prisoner, regular court production for trial of the cases filed against him.

He alleged that the State Police intentionally booked him in old cases.

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Odisha Political Prisoners Hunger Strike Update

Dunna Keshav Rao, Kamalakant Sethi and Asutosh Soren who were on hunger strike from March 30th 2016 have reportedly called off their hunger strike after assurances from the Additional Director General - Prisons, Arun Ray.

Human Rights activist, Narendra Mohanty of the Campaign Against Fabricated Cases (CAFC) said the ADG had assured Dunna Keshav Rao that he would look into the implementation of the hunger striking prisoners' demands