30 Hindu inmates keep fasts along with Muslim friends at Tihar - Express India
New Delhi Sushil Sharma, convicted in the Naina Sahni murder case, is eating khajurs and food twice a day. He and 30 other Hindu prisoners in Tihar Jail will fast for a month during Ramzan this year.
These prisoners are joining Tihars 4,000 Muslim inmates during prayers, and iftaar and sehri. They share the food brought by the relatives of Muslim inmates. We provide them fruits and other things required for the roza (fast). Some NGOs are also assisting us, Tihar spokesperson Sunil Gupta said.
Jail authorities have made arrangements for namaaz (prayers) on Tihar premises and inmates are being provided food at 4 am and 6.30 pm every day.
The authorities have arranged for fruits for all those observing rozas. A senior official at the jail said: It is good that other inmates are following this regime; it helps a person to stay disciplined and reforming him or herself. It is also a great example of inmates respecting each others religion. Jail superintendents are organising everything in all 10 jails and in Rohini as well. Some NGOs are also contributing with fruits and other articles for consumption after the roza.
The jail authorities are also giving lessons in the Quran and other pertinent rituals to the inmates, a source said.
There are around 11,000 prisoners in Tihar Jail, of which around 30 per cent are Muslim; officials said almost all of them are fasting.
Some rules have also been relaxed for those observing Ramzan. Normally, prisoners are not allowed to move out of their cells between the lock-in time in the evening and lock-out time the next day. But those observing rozas are being allowed to move out of their cells so that they can offer prayers and have their meals, a jail official said.
Visitors are coming to Tihar in large numbers. And though the jail canteen is providing inmates with khajurs, fruits and other items, food from outside is being allowed both in the morning and evening.
Officials say the prisoners understand each others festivals and celebrate them together. Navratras are about to start and Muslim inmates fast during this Hindu festival, an officer said.
New Delhi Sushil Sharma, convicted in the Naina Sahni murder case, is eating khajurs and food twice a day. He and 30 other Hindu prisoners in Tihar Jail will fast for a month during Ramzan this year.
These prisoners are joining Tihars 4,000 Muslim inmates during prayers, and iftaar and sehri. They share the food brought by the relatives of Muslim inmates. We provide them fruits and other things required for the roza (fast). Some NGOs are also assisting us, Tihar spokesperson Sunil Gupta said.
Jail authorities have made arrangements for namaaz (prayers) on Tihar premises and inmates are being provided food at 4 am and 6.30 pm every day.
The authorities have arranged for fruits for all those observing rozas. A senior official at the jail said: It is good that other inmates are following this regime; it helps a person to stay disciplined and reforming him or herself. It is also a great example of inmates respecting each others religion. Jail superintendents are organising everything in all 10 jails and in Rohini as well. Some NGOs are also contributing with fruits and other articles for consumption after the roza.
The jail authorities are also giving lessons in the Quran and other pertinent rituals to the inmates, a source said.
There are around 11,000 prisoners in Tihar Jail, of which around 30 per cent are Muslim; officials said almost all of them are fasting.
Some rules have also been relaxed for those observing Ramzan. Normally, prisoners are not allowed to move out of their cells between the lock-in time in the evening and lock-out time the next day. But those observing rozas are being allowed to move out of their cells so that they can offer prayers and have their meals, a jail official said.
Visitors are coming to Tihar in large numbers. And though the jail canteen is providing inmates with khajurs, fruits and other items, food from outside is being allowed both in the morning and evening.
Officials say the prisoners understand each others festivals and celebrate them together. Navratras are about to start and Muslim inmates fast during this Hindu festival, an officer said.
I wish I could be there in India to join you in Navratras and go the Mandar wit you as well, eat the food there and feel brotherhood 
