10 out of 15 hunger strikers have fallen sick as the ongoing fast-unto-death turns into the third day, Thursday. Of them, four are reportedly serious.
Those gone serious included Indra Kala Bhandari, Chandra Maya Khadka, Indira Bhattarai and Tulasha Dhakal, informed Durga Devi Bista, who has been leading the hunger striker in Beldangi-II camp since Tuesday.
A medical team from the AMDA (Association of Medical Doctors of Asia) visited them and examined the protestors Wednesday evening, according to Medical Assistant Dhan Bahadur Adhikari.
Meanwhile, Assistant Chief District Officer of Jhapa, Yogendra Dulal, reached the spot on Wednesday and asked them to break the protest.
Dulal told Bista and a team of community representatives to end the strike citing the protest started at once without giving any formal ultimatum.
“The government has taken your demands seriously. However, we received no time to exercise on your demands, and we ask you to end the strike,” CDO Dulal told Bista and her team.
However, the team expressed its commitment on continuity of the strike unless their demands are met.
A representative from the UNHCR and Refugee Coordination Director Nirmal Khanal were also present during the discussion yesterday.
