Lankans call off fast after word on freedom

CHENNAI: Lankan refugees, who were on a fast-unto-death at the Chengalpattu Government Hospital, withdrew their stir on Sunday after officials accepted their demand to release them from the Special Refugee Camp.Chengalpattu Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Chellappa, along with Q-Branch Officials, was at the Chengalpattu GH. The refugees demanded that at least 15 of them be released from the special camp immediately. However, officials convinced the refugees that there were some practical difficulties involved, but assured them that they would take measures for their release by June 5. The refugees urged the officials to release the rest in the camps once in every three months as done before, instead of releasing the refugees according to their (officials’) whims and fancies. A refugee who spoke to Express thanked Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for responding to their pleas and other political leaders who had extended support. “They (officials) agreed to release the inmates as how it was done earlier,” he said. “We were a bit worried when the officials restrained our relatives from visiting us in the hospital, where we were force-fed,” he added. “At 6.25 pm, the fast was broken with fruit juice. We had been toiling in this camp for years and now we are getting a chance to reunite with our families,” he said.