Koda goes on fast,files police complaint

In jail,prisoners always complain of poor quality of food.

Former chief minister Madhu Koda went on a fast on Tuesday,a day after he was admitted to a hospital after being beaten allegedly by prison guards for protesting against the poor quality of food at the Birsa Munda jail where he is lodged on money laundering charges.

I will give up the fast only after authorities accept the demand for a judicial probe into yesterdays incident and assure improved food to jail inmates, said Koda,who suffered a fractured hand and has been admitted at the government-run RIMS hospital.

In jail,prisoners always complain of poor quality of food. In view of this I had submitted a written complaint asking the authorities to serve them food in accordance with the jail manual. Nobody cared. Yesterday,when I held a meeting with the prisoners and demanded that the food be checked,security guards used force and caned me, he alleged.

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The state government has ordered an inquiry by Ranchi Deputy Commissioner K K Soan into the incident.

Koda has also filed a police complaint. His MLA wife Gita handed over the complaint to the Sadar police station Monday night charging jail authorities with the assault.

Meanwhile,accepting Kodas demand Chief Minister Arjun Munda has ordered a judicial probe into Mondays incident.