Loneliness, shortage of money, food, shelter and a inhospitable climate has demoralised them. Most of them rest on the roadside in the day and sleep in a temple during the night while their womenfolk have to fend for themselves in their native place. The elders end up spending their entire day in the court premises.

The 900 include nearly 300 school and college students and nine women, all of whom were arrested after the recent communal clashes there. After a 45-day stint in the Vellore Central prison they were sent to Tiruchi on conditional bail having been ordered to sign the register in judicial magistrate courts I and II, both in the morning and evening daily.

The ``undertrials'' plan to go on a fast in front of the Tiruchi Collectorate to highlight their plight. Besides, the common feeling is that fasting should be easy as they anyway have just one meal every day. Their feeling of frustration stems from the fact that their earlier appeals to the Ramnad Sessions Court for relaxation of bail conditions have proved abortive.

Ammavasai (59) of Pokkanendhal in Tiurpullani panchayat union who is here for the last fortnight said he and nearly 50 others from his area were ``staying'' in a temple at Mel Pandamangalam near here. Locals initially allowed them to stay in a local school till police intervened stating that undertrials could not be allowed to use government buildings.

Similarly Rajamanickam (28) of Soorakottai in Ramanathapuram PU with 37 others were staying in a choultry at Tiruvanaikoil. Though his village neighbours sent money every week through a messenger for their daily needs, those present lamented they were lucky to get one full meal a day as they have to be present in the court by 9 am and since they are supposed to sign in the evening, they end up spending the entire day in the court premises occupying whichever empty verandah is available.

Sivakumar (20) of Semanur in Bbogalur panchayat union, a II year chemistry student at Ramnad Government Arts College, lamented that the future of students arrested along with him was in a mess. Karnan (18), a Class X student from the same village said due to change of food and climate he has spent all his cash on medicines. Velavan (21) of Chatrakudi echoes the same sentiments.

Seven women from Pallapacheri in Tirupullani PU were staying with 19 others in the Sedal Mariamman Temple at Beemanagar in Tiruchi. Though located near the court, continuous rain had resulted in their being unable to cook food in the room provided by locals as the roof leaks. Though they had purchased vessels and rice for cooking they were unable to use both, they lament.

What is surprising is that all villagers have a minimum of 1.50 acres of land. Their incarceration was unpalatable as Ramnad district recently received its annual quota of rain. Their being away resulted in lands not being utilised for agriculture which would result in hardship next year, they said.

Already two persons have died while one has been runover by a train. One more died in the court premises, a week ago, unable to withstand the cold weather. All stated they were not even allowed to sit in the court premises prior to December 6 (Babri Masjid demolition anniversary) and that even now cops demand money if they are to be allowed to stay in the court premises all day.