Bettiah: Coinciding with the April 10 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, widows and colleagues of two sugar mill employees, who immolated themselves last year in protest against inordinate delay in their wages, observed a silent hunger protest for the second day on Sunday in Motihari to press for their demands.

The development came despite the district administration's assurance to address their grievances. Their protest will continue till April 10.

"We are tired of raising our demands for the past one year at all levels but no help from any quarters has come through. We are therefore compelled to observe a silent hunger strike," said Poornima Devi, widow of Naresh Shrivastava, minutes before going on her daylong protest. Maya Devi, the widow of Suraj Baitha, echoed a similar sentiment.