Mahara Prison : 71 hospitalized : Eight inmates have reportedly died

The number of inmates hospitalised due to sustaining injuries by the escalated violence at Mahara Prison has risen up to 71, according to reports. A considerable account of the wounded is in critical condition, according to Ragama Hospital Director.

Eight inmates have reportedly died due to the escalation.

Dr. Shelton Fernando, Director of Ragama Hospital, went on public record stating that there could be more wounded inmates at the prison premises, and no official records to estimate the number of wounded inmates have been received yet.

Violence escalated as a group of inmates at Mahara Prison made a prison break attempt yesterday (29), followed by a blaze spread over the premises. Special Task Forces have been deployed to contain the situation.

Security Forces stated that they were forced to open gunfire to control the situation.

The fire has been contained at the moment as well.

Meanwhile, controversy is at a rise, as a number of parties are pointing fingers at the government, suggesting that the above events occurred due to the failure of controlling the Covid-19 spread at the prison sector against the increasing record of positive cases among the inmates, which according to them was the reason behind the escalation in the first place.