News

Prison clash fuelled by guards, probe reveals

By Damith Wickremasekara

Some of the jail guards at the Welikada New Magazine remand prison helped inmates to damage the premises and set fire to buildings in Tuesday’s riot which left 26 prisoners and four guards injured, an investigation has revealed.

Prison and Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera told the Sunday Times that initial investigations show that the prisoners were able to advance to an area close to the office of the Superintendent of Prisons, indicating inside support from the guards.

Scene’s from Tuesday’s riot. Pix by M.A.Pushpakumara

“They had come right up to the entrance and even tried to break open the door,” Mr Gajadeera said.
Damage to the building including the record room, stores, laundry, medical room and main ward of the prison, has been estimated at Rs. 4.7 million.

Some of the prisoners had reportedly broken into the pharmacy and taken an overdose of tablets usually given to drug addicts, that usually results in a dazed state.“As an initial step we are looking at reducing the numbers in the prison. Currently there are 1,800 remand prisoners. We hope to transfer them to other prisons. At least 180 of the LTTE suspects too were transferred,” he said.

Commenting on other measures to be taken to prevent such incidents, the minister said the team that carries out sporadic raids has been brought under the Ministry with immediate effect to prevent any prior leak of information regarding impending raids.

“We will also make use of more advanced technology to monitor the prisons and prevent drug trafficking,” he said. He said they would also limit the service period of prison guards to one year, excluding those of exceptionally good officers.

The clashes at the Welikada prison broke out around 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday with a group of inmates hurling bricks and stones on to the main road and the watch towers. As the riot broke out only 11 officers were on duty to oversee 1,800 prisoners, the Sunday Times learns. Many of the guards were involved in other duties, including courts duty.

The inmates had first entered the administrative building, removed the tiles and damaged the equipment before setting fire to the files. They had then stormed the stores and the laundry, setting fire to both places.

“The fire brigade too was prevented from entering the premises with stones being pelted at them,” a senior prison officer told the Sunday Times. The army, navy and police were later called in and tear gas was used to quell the riot and prevent prisoners escaping.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Oil imports: Lanka in major diplomatic dilemma
Islamic missionaries told to declare nature of their visit
Eastern PC wants police, land powers
Balance US$ 800 ml. IMF loan poses problem for Govt.
Spot fines, jail terms for mosquito breeders
We were scared we would be eaten by fellow prisoners: Trawler skipper
Military parade, religious ceremonies, Deyata Kirula herald Independence Day at Anuradhapura
Right of lawyers to represent clients in Police custody to be Gazetted
Motorcyclist involved in fatal accident has conviction, 10-month RI overturned
CEB employees threaten aftershocks against higher pay hike for management
Armed pro-Govt groups hijack Black January protest with ‘Police protection’
News in brief
3 to 5 children raped daily
Peradeniya fresher allegedly stripped, hung from a beam and sexually abused
Maldivian govt., opposition at loggerheads, seek UN, C’wealth intervention
Clinical trials on safety of drugs with animals and humans as ‘guinea pigs’
Major credit card scam busted
Prison clash fuelled by guards, probe reveals
Real estate buyers landed with bogus deeds, fraudulent transactions
UNP: State land goes willy nilly sans tenders and transparency
Fiery death for four mourners
Navy nabs 4 ex-Sea Tigers swimming to Mannar
When and why high-profile investigations fail
Clouds of dust

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2012 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution