South Asia News
Riot in Sri Lankan prison leaves 28 injured
Jan 24, 2012, 10:14 GMT
Colombo - A riot broke out in a high-security jail in Colombo Tuesday after steps were introduced to curb drug trafficking into the facility, police said.
At least 28 people, including 24 prisoners, were injured as guards and inmates clashed in Welikada prison in the Borella area of the city, Police Superintendent Ajith Rohoana said.
Prisoners broke into the room where their files were kept and set fire to them, destroying most of the files and part of the building.
Most of the injured received gunshot wounds to the lower legs when police and prison officers opened fire and used tear gas on the rioting inmates, a senior prison official said.
At least 180 former suspected Tamil rebels held in the prison were evacuated for safety reasons, prison official SP Rohana said.
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