In a recent letter to the Principal Secretary of Home department, he said 589 prisoners were already staging hunger strike in various prisons of the State and this would threaten the security system.
As many as 135 men and 22 women prisoners in Bangalore central jail, 265 prisoners in Belgaum jail, 36 in Gulbarga, 67 in Bijapur, 64 in Bellary jail are staging indefinite hunger strike. Though the Government had recommended their release, the Governor refused to grant parole saying none on the list were fit to be released.
Situation turned tense at Central Prisons in Parappana Agrahara on Friday when a few protesting inmates suddenly fell ill.
Around 150 inmates were protesting since Thursday demanding the State government to take steps for their release on the grounds. A few of them also started fasting.
Ten of them fell ill and collapsed while protesting on Friday and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Published 13 August 2010, 20:02 IST