Madurai: Protesting against ban on smoking in jail premises, three prisoners, lodged in the central prison in Sivaganga district, created tension, when they climbed atop some trees in the jail premises, refusing to come down for nearly five hours, prison officials said.

They said the prisoners Muthu, Thangapandi and Pandi, climbed the trees when the police opened their cell on September 17 morning to enable them complete their morning routines. They refused to come down and wanted the jail authorities to permit smoking for all prisoners.

But after four hours of persuasion, two of the prisoners came down, but Thangapandi continued with his protest.

Meanwhile as the officials did not want the situation to go out of hand and feared that the protest could spread, they informed local police who came and persuaded Thangapandi to climb down.

The jail authorities said they had banned smoking in view of the poor health conditions of the prisoners, which was revealed during the recent medical test. They refused to allow cigarettes and 'beedis' inside the prison and sale of 'beedi' and cigarettes in the jail canteen has also been stopped with predominant number of prisoners having smoking habit, officials said.

On September 17, on a similar demand, 50 under trials in Coimbatore central prison, declined to partake their noon meals.

PTI