Fasting Koda agrees to drink milk on doc's advice

Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who is on a fast in hospital in protest against being allegedly assaulted in jail, on Wednesday agreed to drink milk on doctor's advice.

"We have advised him to take 200 ml milk. Taking medicines on an empty stomach is not advisable. He has agreed to our advice," director of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences Tulsi Mahto told mediapersons in Ranchi.

Koda, who suffered a fracture in the right hand and was admitted to RIIMS, is on fast since Monday after being allegedly beaten up inside the Birsa Munda Central jail.

Though the district administration and jail authorities have said he was assaulted by other prisoners, Koda alleged that prison guards had beaten him up when he and others protested about the poor quality of food.

On Tuesday, Koda had threatened to move the human rights commission claiming that the police did not register his complaint of assault in jail.

Chief Minister Arjun last night said a retired district judge would probe the alleged assault on Koda.

Koda is in the jail since November 30, 2009 when a special vigilance court sent him to judicial custody in connection with a Rs 2,500 crore scam unearthed by the Income Tax and Enforcement Departments following countrywide raids on October 31 that year.