Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Fast for prisoners' rights called off

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Convener of the Committee Against Capital Punishment K. Girish Kumar who was on a fast to press for the democratic rights of prisoners called off his protest on Thursday following Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan's assurance that all possible measures would be taken within the framework of law and court verdicts to meet the demands.

Veteran journalist and human rights activist B.R.P. Bhaskar gave lime juice to Mr. Girish Kumar to mark the end of the fast. Earlier, a delegation of rights activists led by Mr. Bhaskar had held several rounds of discussions with the Chief Minister regarding the committee's demand for restoration of the democratic rights of prisoners and release of life-term prisoners who have completed 14 years in jail. The agitation by the committee resulted in the release of 81-year-old Annamma, who had been waiting release even after serving 15 years in jail, and two other prisoners. The Chief Minister assured the delegation of activists, which also included Adivasi Gothrasabha leader M. Geethanandan, K. Rajmohan, George and N. Subramanian, that the Cabinet would take up the matter at its next meeting and that he would hold talks on all related issues in the third week of May. The Chief Minister met the delegation on Thursday after discussing the issue with Law Minister M. Vijayakumar. He had called on Governor R.L. Bhatia to explain the Government's stand on the demand for release of prisoners in whose case the Jail Advisory Committee had made favourable recommendations.

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