All prisoners of the Koderma sub-jail in Jharkhand launched an indefinite fast on Friday to protest against the death of an inmate on February 16.

Jail Superintendent Ramesh Prasad said Murli Yadav died despite the best possible treatment given at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.

However the 270-odd prisoners alleged that Yadav died due to negligence by jail officials.

The prisoners also submitted a memorandum to the district administration complaining about the quality of food at the
jail and other problems faced by them.

Yadav was lodged in the jail in connection with a murder case pending in a local court for the last seven years.