Preliminary investigations into the Mahara Prison riot have revealed that autopsy reports of the dead inmates will be required to determine if any were shot at close range.
The interim report by the 05-member committee appointed by the Justice Ministry to probe the riot, states that several inmates were shot during the riot.
It further said none of the prisoners were armed and only the prison guards, Police and Special Task Force personnel deployed to contain the situation were in possession of firearms.
Members of the Committee had visited the Prison and recorded statements from inmates as well as prison officials.
The committee also informed that the bodies of the dead inmates should not be disposed without conducting postmortem examinations.
The interim report of the committee further said the agitation by the Mahara Prison inmates was justified as it was a culmination of their fears over the spread of the coronavirus within the prison, information on transfer of infected prisoners from Welikada to Mahara prison, and mainly over their own personal safety.
The committee stated that witnesses had said that medicines stored at the pharmacy at the prison hospital had been taken and distributed among prisoners, following which they had stated attacking each other.
An expert committee is investigating the effects of the drugs on inmates and its possible connection to violent behaviour.
The report added that two gangs, one led by a man called ‘Bosa’ and other by ‘Lahiru’, were responsible for the violence among the prisoners, and authorities had to open fire to control them.
It added that some criminals had used the unrest to settle personal scores, and this had led to the violent attacks among them. They had also set fire to the building, causing extensive damage to public property.
Justice Minister Ali Sabry tabled the interim report in Parliament yesterday, while the committee is set to submit its final report to the Minister in one month. (NewsWire)
