Kerala-Born Inmate Killed in Sri Lanka Prison Riot Buried Under Police Guard
Indian inmate Unnikrishnan S, killed in Sri Lanka's Negombo prison riot, was buried under police protection with Indian High Commission officials in attendance.
An Indian national killed during a violent riot at Negombo prison in Sri Lanka has been buried under police protection, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Negombo Magistrate's Court that the burial of 73-year-old Unnikrishnan S took place on September 2, following a court directive and at state expense. Officials from the Indian High Commission in Colombo attended the funeral.
Unnikrishnan, originally from Kerala, had been residing in Chennai with his family for over four decades. He arrived in Sri Lanka on March 2 and was arrested on suspicion of possessing ganja. He was remanded in Negombo prison, where he was killed during clashes between inmates on July 5 and 6.
The CID also told Chief Magistrate Shilani Perera that the victim's clothing and footwear from the time of his death have been submitted for forensic examination.
The court is hearing cases related to the riot, one of the deadliest prison incidents in Sri Lanka in recent years. The violence, sparked by a dispute between rival inmate groups over drugs, resulted in the deaths of 22 inmates and 10 prison officials, with around 100 others injured. Severe overcrowding reportedly hampered authorities' efforts to control the clashes.
An identification parade for five suspects was held on Tuesday, with 11 more scheduled for September 10. A total of 81 suspects are expected to face trial in connection with the violence.