Azad calls off fast-unto-death after Odisha govt assurance

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Mar 27:

Donna Keshav Rao alias ‘Azad’, the dreaded Maoist accused in the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati which triggered off vicious anti-Christian riots in Odisha’s Kandhamal district in 2008, today called off his fast-unto-death inside the Jharpada jail here after an assurance from the district administration that steps would be taken to expedite his trial.

Azad's mother in front of the Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar on Friday (Pic: Biswaranjan Mishra)
Azad’s mother in front of the Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar on Friday (Pic: Biswaranjan Mishra)

Azad broke his fast with a glass of juice served to him by Khordha Collector Niranjan Sahu, who assured him that his demand will be conveyed to government.

The collector was accompanied by city sub-Collector and Additional DG and IG prisons Pradeep Kapoor.

The dreaded Maoist, along with six others, had begun a fast-unto-death on Tuesday demanding a speedy trial.

Earlier in the day Azad’s mother D Kamulamma had met the jail authorities and had handed over a memorandum making a fervent plea for expediting the trial of her son and others, who were on a fast-unto-death inside the Jharpada jail here.

Also Read

Comments are closed.