Approximately fifty inmates staged a daring escape from the Welikanda Kandakadu Rehabilitation Camp in Polonnaruwa today (11), prompting a swift response from law enforcement. This incident follows the earlier escape of twelve inmates in the afternoon, with ten subsequently apprehended by the police.
Polonnaruwa Senior Superintendent of Police Nishan de Silva reported that twenty-three of the fifty escapees voluntarily surrendered to the Pulastipura police, while a joint special operation was initiated by Welikanda, Aralagangwila Manampitiya, Pulastipura police, and the army to capture the remaining fugitives.
The exact locations from which the inmates escaped remain unconfirmed, and challenging terrain in the area is complicating the ongoing efforts to apprehend them, according to a senior security officer involved in the operation.
Individuals at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Camp, typically referred by the courts for counseling services, undergo a one-year program. However, deficiencies in the provision of food and facilities at the Welikanda Kandakadu Camp have reportedly contributed to recurrent escape incidents, as stated by an officer from the security department.
To address such challenges, an army security officer suggested exploring alternative locations, including islands like Batticaloa Pigeon Island, for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. This, they argued, could alleviate issues faced by the government and security forces in ensuring the effective containment and rehabilitation of individuals at risk.
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