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Jaffna prison inmates launch hunger strike

Inmates at Jaffna prison have launched a hunger strike this morning, according to latest reports.

At least 18 inmates are reported to have joined the hunger strike, with reports that an even larger number had commenced the protest this morning.

Daily Mirror and Adaderana report police officials as stating that the prisoners involved in the protest are being held on drug smuggling charges.

Earlier this year a number of Tamil civilians were abducted from their homes in Trincomalee, and were believed to have been detained by Sri Lanka’s anti-drugs police.

Last year towns across the North-East were shut down in support of Tamil political prisoners who had staged protests in jail cells across the island. In February of this year three of them were admitted into hospital as their condition deteriorated.

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