In response to a clash between two inmate groups at the Polonnaruwa Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center, Polonnaruwa Magistrate 2 G.P.D has ordered 14 arrested inmates to be remanded until Thursday (08). The clash resulted in injuries to ten inmates and an army soldier who intervened, all of whom are currently receiving treatment at hospitals in Welikanda and Polonnaruwa.
According to reports from the Welikanda Police, the conflict escalated when twenty-one inmates attempted to rob a tourist bus near Somavathiya, injuring a security officer and stealing money. The police have since arrested these inmates and confiscated weapons such as scissors and iron rods, along with a stash of tobacco, cigarettes, and drugs found in their possession.
A senior military officer at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center revealed that drug trafficking activities often spark conflicts among inmates. Despite previous incidents of escape due to food shortages, the situation at the center is currently under control, with 202 inmates undergoing rehabilitation.
Retired Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, expressed concerns over drug traffickers attempting to gain control through creating conflicts at the center. He noted a history of tensions and conflicts among various groups within the facility, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to maintain order and security.
