32 Tamil detainees injured

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2000, 12:49 GMT]
Thirty-two Tamil detainees who were staging a hunger strike were injured in clashes that erupted around 2 p.m. in the Kalutara prison, south of Colombo, sources said. The wounded have been taken to Nagoda hospital.

Unconfirmed reports said Tamil detainees were attacked by Sinhala prisoners and guards.

But the police said violence erupted when they attempted to take the prisoners to produce them in the courts. Eight prison guards were also injured, according to the police.

Kalutara North police is conducting investigation.

According to officials 700 Tamil political prisoners are held at the Kalutara prison. A large number of them have been detained for several years with out any legal charges against them, the officials said.

The prisoners have staged hunger strike several times earlier appealing for their release or to take legal action against them.