JAILED arms dealer Peter Bleach has been transferred from his Indian prison after a hunger strike in protest at his treatment.

Bleach, a former St Peter's School pupil from Fylingthorpe, on the North York Moors, refused food after being denied gifts and a birthday cake sent to him by friends.

In letters received by the Evening Press, he had earlier complained that he was being kept in virtual solitary confinement in the Presidency Correctional Home, in Calcutta.

He is now in Alipore Central jail, where he claims his treatment is better. His hunger strike, started on May 20, was called off four days later.

But he said the treatment he received at the Calcutta jail was "an outrage beyond belief".

"John Hamilton (of the Foreign Office) delivered a variety of goods which had been sent from Europe," said Bleach.

"All these goods were listed in the usual manner. They were fully checked by the duty discipline officer who then handed them to me after I had signed receipt for them.

"An hour later, the security officer came to my cell and told me that the superintendent had said that my goods were not authorised and that I must hand them back."

Bleach, who said he was bed ridden on doctor's orders because of back pains, was informed that he was being transferred after starting his hunger strike in protest.

He said: "About 15 jail guards led by a junior officer, all armed with heavy truncheons, arrived at my cell. The officer told me to get up and come to jail reception immediately or they would give me a beating.

"I told him that, since I could not walk properly, I could not obey his instructions. Several guards seized me, dragged me from my bed and physically dragged me naked to the reception area of the jail. All, including the junior officer concerned, found this very funny."

Bleach is serving a life sentence in jail after playing a part in smuggling arms to Bengal rebels.

Updated: 10:56 Wednesday, May 28, 2003