8 political prisoners assaulted by Jaffna prison personnel

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 May 2010, 19:01 GMT]
Jaffna magistrate, informed of the attack on eight political prisoners held in Jaffna Prison by prison officials and guards on 30 April, ordered the victims to be admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) for treatment, sources in Jaffna said. The victims who were among 60 fellow prisoners locked in a cell had tried to escape, Jaffna prison authorities claimed. One of the relatives of the victims had informed Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna officials of the attack on the political prisoners and they being refused medical treatment by prison authorities. The eight political prisoners suffering with fractured bones and some of them passing blood with urine were admitted to JTH Wednesday morning, hospital sources said.

The eight political prisoners were locked up in a cell and tortured by more than ten Jaffna prison officials and guards, the relative of the victims had told Jaffna HRC officials.

Jaffna magistrate made direct inquiry into the complaint and ordered the eight political prisoners to be given medical treatment in JTH.