TN: 150 prison inmates on hunger strike

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: Tension prevailed at the Central Prison here as inmates shouted slogans against police for beating up a detenu, leading to 150 prisoners going on hunger strike.Police said they had to beat the detenu, Madhan, as he had turned very aggressive when they carried out checking to ascertain if ganja or mobile phones were being used by the prisoners.Madhan suffered minor injuries and has been admitted in the jail hospital for treatment, they said.Police resorted to mild lathicharge when prisoners protested the police action with some even climbing trees and shouting slogans. The prisoners demanded action against the police personnel.The Central Jail houses most of those accused of land grabbing. Some former DMK ministers and senior functionaries are lodged here.Though the prison has the capacity to hold 2,800 inmates, it now has more than 3,000 prisoners.