Inmates break boundary of religions in Agra jail

A group of Muslim inmates at a jail in the Taj city of Agra joined Hindu prisoners in fasting on the occasion of Navratri festival while a section of Hindus observed the Ramadan fast.

Chaitra Navratri, the nine-day Hindu celebration of the triumph of good over evil, started on March 22 while the holy month of Ramadan began the following day in India, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Radha Krishna Mishra, deputy inspector general in-charge at the Central Jail in Agra, told PTI, "Muslim inmates are observing fast for Navratri and also taking part in bhajan [devotional songs] organised at the temple on the premises."

Pointing to the Hindu inmates observing Ramadan fast, Mishra said, "It is a good concept where inmates from both the religions are generating a message of Hindu-Muslim unity."

Alok Singh, the jailer, said the facility has 905 inmates. Of them, 17 Muslim inmates observed fast on Navratri while 37 Hindus observed that for Ramadan.

The jail authorities have made arrangements for fruits and milk for inmates fasting for Navratri. For the inmates observing fast, the authorities arranged dates to break their fast.