Welikada prisoners attack Police

At least 48 policemen and prison officers were hospitalised after prisoners at the Welikada prison attacked them during a search operation at the prison early yesterday morning, informed sources said.

About 4000 prisoners were removed from their cells for a surprise drug raid. The raid was conducted by 500 police and prison officers who were later attacked by the prisoners. Action has been taken to bring the unrest under control, prisons sources said.

“46 police officers and 2 prison officers have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital and are currently being treated for various injuries sustained due to the attack. Injuries to the head, chest and abdomen are reported and medical investigations are being carried out to determine whether there are any serious internal injuries,” Dr. Hector Weerasinghe Director of National Hospital told Daily Mirror online

Dr. Weerasinghe added that no fatalities had been reported and that the outlook for the injured officers was positive.

The prison officials have been instructed to carry out an inquiry to ascertain the facts surrounding the clash between the police and the Welikada inmates, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara told Daily Mirror online

The Minster added that the police had conducted similar raids in prisons island wide in a drive to eradicate drugs from prisons and that the raid in Welikada took place after a obtaining a Court warrant.

Further the Minister said that the animosity between the police and the inmates would have also contributed to the clash as police officers were the reason why prisoners were behind bars.