Detailed report on prison riot today
Published on: Monday, November 12, 2012 //
Security
Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera said a three member committee has been appointed to probe the incident at the Welikada Prison on Friday evening. Police said the number of people killed following the incident stood at 27. All dead were inmates. Forty three persons were injured in the clash. Among the injured were 13 Special Task Force (STF) officers including STF Commanding Officer DIG R W N C Ranawana, 23 prison inmates, four soldiers and a passerby.
Colombo National Hospital Director Dr Anil Jasinghe said four persons with severe injuries, including DIG Ranawana, were receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit.
The tense situation in the Welikada Prison was brought under control by the Police, the STF and the Army, following a gun battle between inmates and STF commandos who carried out a raid on Friday for drugs and smuggled mobile phones inside cells. Police said they recovered 72 weapons grabbed from the armoury by prisoners to battle the STF personnel and are investigating to recover six more weapons removed during the clash.
Six prison escapees have been re-arrested while several more are to be apprehended. Operations are underway to arrest prisoners who escaped with weapons during the clash, Minister Gajadeera said. The Criminal Investigations Department, the Army and other authorities are conducting separate investigations into the incident and that a detailed report is to be issued today, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry sources said.
Damage to the prison property is yet to be estimated, Commissioner General of Prisons P W Kodippili said.
