HUNDREDS of prisoners in an eastern Indian jail went on a hunger strike after authorities refused to allow inmates to watch the Indian Premier League (IPL).

About 500 prisoners in the eastern city of Kolkata had requested cable television to watch the Twenty20 cricket tournament being played in South Africa at the weekend.

Cricket is followed by millions of people across the country.

The IPL was moved out of India amid security worries as the schedule clashed with the country's month-long election process, which began last week.

"We cannot allow cable television inside the jail compound," B.D. Sharma, a senior police officer, said.

Mr Sharma said prisoners were only allowed to watch state-run television and read magazines and newspapers.