Magazine prison riots due to crackdown on drugs, Rs.7.5mn damage

25 January 2012 10:26 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 7 Bookmark

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Prison officials said that the main cause for the riots which took place at the Magazine remand prison was due to the crackdown on drugs being smuggled into the prison through meals brought from outside.

Remand prisoners are allowed by prison authorities to get meals from outside. A prison officer of the Magazine remand prison said that prisoners who were involved in the riot on Tuesday were in remand for narcotic related offences.

Under the leadership of the new Superintendent of Prisons (SP) the authorities launched a massive crackdown and even checked their lunch packets brought to them by their family members.

The new Superintendent was brought to the Magazine remand prison for his excellent record during his tenure at the Kalutara Prison.

The damage due to the riots is said to be worth Rs.7.5 million.

Meanwhile the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) is conducting investigations into the riots as they had damaged state property. A probe into the clash and the protest has been initiated by the Prisons Department. (Supun Dias)

Comments - 7

Calistus Jayatilleke Wednesday, 25 January 2012 11:05 AM

Good move by the new SP to crack down on drugs and mobile phones being brought into the prisons, in most cases with the connivance of jail guards. The prisoners who revolted and damaged public property should have their prison terms doubled or even trebled. A jail, after all, is a jail and not a place for prisoners to enjoy illegal benefits and damage property.

3 14

Sammy Wednesday, 25 January 2012 11:03 AM

Criminals committing further crimes in prison. What's the penalty?

3 13

Saba Wednesday, 25 January 2012 11:06 AM

Can you now understand why drug related offenses should be punished by death?

6 14

lankashantha Wednesday, 25 January 2012 02:25 PM

Do a simple blood tests of all inmates.
Find out who is using Ganja and who is using hard drugs.
Separate them and keep in a separate place and check their out side food thoroughly when they going to receive it.
Less cost and very effective.

4 16

manik Wednesday, 25 January 2012 10:51 PM

Are still drugs available in this country after drug lords were exported?

0 5

asoka abeywardena Thursday, 26 January 2012 04:02 AM

@ lankashantha...common man...ganja is harmless...people who smoke only ganja are really a peace loving society...it is the people who use hard drugs create problem...its an addiction and some how they have to fix their next hit....but ganja you can use for ten years and stop the next day...no withdrawal symptoms...there are countries and some cities where use of ganja is legalize...

0 2

hassa Thursday, 26 January 2012 07:55 AM

Who is this ganja addict/expert?

1 0

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