Sabyasachi Panda again goes on hunger strike

BERHAMPUR: Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda has again started hunger strike in Berhampur Circle Jail here.

Earlier, Panda was on hunger strike from March 31 to April 4 protesting his solitary confinement in the jail and accusing authorities of stopping his letters from reaching the court.

He also demanded that he be provided with the list of cases pending against him in different police stations.

The rebel leader had postponed his strike after jail authorities assured that they would draw the attention of the authorities to his demands.

Since his demands were not fulfilled, he is on an indefinite fast since yesterday, said his advocate Deepak Patnaik.

Sabyasachi was served food, but he is not eating anything since yesterday, said Assistant Jailor Satya Narayan Behera.

In another development, Dandapani Mohanty, who is lodged in the same jail for alleged Maoist activities, threatened to launch a hunger strike from tomorrow.

Mohanty, convener of Damana Pratirodha Manch, a human rights organisation, was arrested from his house here on February 8, 2013.