Maoists hunger strike enters 2nd day

All the 272 inmates, including 31 Maoists, of the jail started hunger strike yesterday in protest against the state government`s alleged failure in fulfilling the 14 demands laid by the Maoists for the release of abducted Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi in February.

Maoist leader Srinivas was one of the leaders whose name was in the priority freedom list prepared by the red rebels in exchange of abducted collector and junior engineer.Officials said the inmates took flattened rice today while they had refused to take any food yesterday.

"The inmates refused to call off their strike, but after much persuasion they took flattened rice. We are trying to pacify them and hopeful of a solution at the earliest," a jail official said. On Monday, Malkangiri sub-collector and jail superintendent had made a failed bid to pacify the agitating inmates.