Vadodara jail inmate on hunger strike, demands transfer back to Porbandar
Vadodara: Tales of freedom fighters going on hunger strike in jail for better facilities are quite popular even today. But an inmate of Vadodara Central Jail has been on hunger strike for the last 20 days with an unusual demand.
Prafulgiri Ramdatti (Goswami), an undertrial in a rape case of Porbandar, started his hunger strike on July 23 with a demand that he be transferred back to Porbandar special jail.
Prafulgiri was brought to Vadodara Central Jail on July 21 due to disciplinary and security reasons.
Jail officials said that ever since he came, he has been demanding that he be sent back. On July 23, he declared that he would start a hunger strike and will not eat anything until he is transferred back to Porbandar special jail. Prafulgiri was arrested by Kamlabaug police of Porbandar for raping and threatening a minor girl in September 2018.
“He would have got into a brawl with a fellow inmate or would have done something for which he would have been sent here as a disciplinary measure,” said a jail official. However, his behaviour with inmates in Vadodara jail has been cordial and he talks and mingles with everyone.
Jail officials said that ever since he came, he has been demanding that he be sent back. On July 23, he declared that he would start a hunger strike and will not eat anything until he is transferred back to Porbandar special jail. Prafulgiri was arrested by Kamlabaug police of Porbandar for raping and threatening a minor girl in September 2018.
“He would have got into a brawl with a fellow inmate or would have done something for which he would have been sent here as a disciplinary measure,” said a jail official. However, his behaviour with inmates in Vadodara jail has been cordial and he talks and mingles with everyone.
For the last 20 days, Prafulgiri has been just having fluids and surviving. “We offered him fruits or milk if he did not want to eat jail food, but he refused that as well. He is just consuming oral rehydration solution and surviving,” said B K Rathwa, a jailer. Rathwa lodged an offence against Prafulgiri at Raopura police station on Monday for his hunger strike. As per Section 52 of the Prisons Act, an inmate may face punishment if he is found guilty of any offence against prison discipline. Rathwa said that Prafulgiri has made an application to Porbandar sessions jail so that he can be transferred back, but no decision has been taken by court yet.
For the last two days, the jail staff has been taking him to SSG Hospital for a regular check-up. “He has not complained that he is feeling weak, but the staff takes him so that doctors can take care of him,” said another jail official.
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