In a violent clash that lasted for two days in a prison in Negombo, Sri Lanka, 25 people died, while about 100 people were injured. According to officials, the clash started between two groups of permanent and temporary prisoners, which later turned violent. The prisoners also attacked the security personnel. The help of police, special forces and army was taken to control the situation. The matter is under investigation.
Violence started during breakfast
According to a Reuters report, officials say the violence began on Sunday between prisoners serving permanent sentences and those kept in temporary detention at Negombo prison. There are about 2,400 prisoners lodged in the jail. Jail Department media spokesperson Chamika Gajanayake said that while serving breakfast on Monday morning, there was a clash between the two parties again. When the jail officials tried to intervene, the prisoners attacked them too and chased them till the main gate of the jail. During this time some prisoners also tried to escape from the jail. According to officials, in the initial investigation, this violence is believed to be related to drug trafficking, although detailed investigation of the case is going on.
25 deaths in two days, six jail officers also included
In the first clash on Sunday, two prisoners were killed and 38 people were injured. But the situation worsened after violence broke out again on Monday morning. 23 more people were killed in the second clash, including six jail officers. The number of injured is said to be around 100. Dr. Pushpa Gamlath, director of Negombo hospital, told Reuters that many of the injured brought to the hospital had bullet wounds, while others had deep wounds and bruises. 18 injured have also been sent to another hospital. Police riot control force, special police units and army were deployed to control the situation. Sri Lanka Air Force also deployed helicopters and drones to monitor the prison.
Investigation of weapons reaching prisoners
After the news of violence, a large number of relatives of the prisoners reached outside the jail, where the police stopped them by putting up barricades. Justice and National Unity Minister Harshana Nanayakkara expressed condolences to the families of the deceased after visiting the jail. He said that some weapons had fallen into the hands of prisoners, but their number is not yet clear. According to the minister, at present the administration has control over the entire jail complex and the matter is being investigated. According to Reuters, earlier in November 2020, 11 prisoners had died in prison violence in Sri Lanka, while in 2012, 27 people had lost their lives in a riot in a prison in Colombo.
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