Negombo: The death toll of the violent clash that erupted between inmates at a prison in western Sri Lanka on Sunday has risen to 25, authorities confirmed. Nearly 100 inmates have been injured.
The clash broke out between two groups of inmates at the prison in the coastal town of Negombo, Deccan Herald reported.
Violence erupted again on Monday after inmates in the over-capacity facility got access to prison guns.
The violence is believed to have erupted between a group allegedly supporting drug trafficking activities within the prison and another group opposed to such activities, preliminary investigation has revealed.
The police’s Special Task Force (STF) and riot control units have been deployed to contain the situation, officials said. Three inmates were transferred to the Pallansena Prison Camp on Monday as part of efforts to restore order and prevent further violence.
Prisons department media spokesman A C Gajanayake stated that a special investigation has been launched into the incident. He said a dedicated investigation team has been appointed on the instructions of the commissioner general of prisons to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the causes and circumstances surrounding the unrest.
A separate police investigation is also underway. Meanwhile, minister of justice, Harshana Nanayakkara, has called for a detailed report on the clashes involving inmates at the Negombo Prison.
A magisterial inquiry into the incident was conducted on Sunday.
