New Delhi: Despite belonging to other faith, 59 Hindu prisoners lodged in Tihar jail have been observing Ramadan fast along with 2,299 Muslims. Citing different grounds, inmates said that they have their own reasons to observe Roza.
As the days of fasting are passing, the temperature in the capital city has been touching a new mark. With the mercury rising to 45 degree Celsius on Sunday, special arrangments have been made for those who are fasting, said jail officials.
“Officials have put up boards which display the sunset timings every day. We have ordered dates and Roohafza for all the fasting prisoners. There is also a special arrangement for space for them to observe namaz in the morning hours,” prison’s director general, Ajay Kashyap said as per a report by the Hindustan Times.
A 45-year-old woman who was arrested for kidnapping told jail officers that she is fasting for the welfare of her son outside. Another prisoner said that he was fasting to get a release soon. While a 21-year-old said he wanted to accompany his Muslim co-prisoners.
Regarding Hindus keeping fast inside Tihar, a jail officer said that each prisoner here is troubled by one way or the other and they seek solace in doing religious practices. “We see many cases of prisoners either finding a newfound religious connection or, in some cases, losing whatever little faith they had,” he added.