After observing a fast-unto-death for 34 days demanding the closure of special camps for Sri Lankan refugees in the State, Sri Lankan Tamil Chenthuran (alias) Murugan on Thursday called off his hunger strike following an assurance from senior police officers who promised to look into his demands.

Also, he demanded the police not to invoke the Foreigners Act against Sri Lankan Tamils and drop all the cases filed against him.

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Chenthuran (32) ended his fast at 7 am on Thursday by drinking tender coconut water, said his wife Mangayarkarasy. She along with her daughter came to meet her husband who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital. He began his fast-unto-death protest on March 7 when he was arrested by the Q branch CID under the provision of Foreigners Act, after he came out on bail. He was shifted to the hospital on March 3 after his health condition  worsened.

After the senior police officers were informed of  the health condition of Chenthuran who started vomiting blood, IG Kannappan and ADGP Ramanujam spoke to Chenthuran over the phone during the early hours of Thursday.

“The police officers told my husband to end the protest temporarily. They explained to him that they would not be able to take a decision in the present situation (elections),” Mangayarkarasy said.

After the elections were over, they  would look into the demands of her husband, she said and added that he refused to call off his hunger protest despite she pleading  him to, on Wednesday.

“ But, he was determined to continue his protest until his demands were fulfilled. He continued the protest despite knowing his health condition. He suffered a stroke on Wednesday night. The doctors told me that my husband is putting his life in grave danger,” said Mangayarkarsay.

She complained that despite the High Court granting permission to her  to meet her husband two hours a day, the police on security duty were making her wait for long hours. Mangayarkarasy had to come all the way from Pammal in Chennai. 

The doctors told her his sugar-level had shot up, so has his blood pressure.

“ He was hail and healthy before he started his hunger protest for 42 days in year 2012,” Mangayarkarasy added further.

Following Chenthuran’s 42-day hunger protest, the State government had released 17 Sri Lankan from Special Camp at Chengampet. They were shifted to the open camps. (Indian Express)