The condition of Dara Singh, prime accused in the killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his sons in January 2000, is reported serious. Singh continued an indefinite fast for the fourth day on Friday, at the Baripada circle jail in Orissa.
He is demanding a ceiling fan in his cell, jail officials said.
"His condition deteriorated on Thursday night and his condition can be termed serious," sources said.
The assistant district medical officer said that jail doctors were monitoring his condition. "Dara Singh was administered saline on Thursday and Friday," he said.
"We are trying to convince Dara Singh to break the fast, but he is adamant," Mayurbhanj District Collector D K Singh said.
Singh has been lodged at Baripada since January last year, when he was arrested by the Orissa police in connection with the Staines murder case.
His trial in the case in the district and sessions court, Khurda, was adjourned till June 11, as Dara could not be brought to the court, following his indefinite fast.
Dara had earlier written to the district collector, demanding a fan by June 4, sources said. Dara had claimed that his mental and physical agony had increased due to the heat wave conditions.