Police teams raid Tiruchi special camp

Teams of city police personnel conducted searches inside the special camp where foreign nationals facing criminal charges are kept, and on Friday, August 19, 2022, seized more than 150 mobile phones from prisoners.

The police action has come after almost a month. National Investigation Agency personnel searched inside the campwas operating near the Central Prison, and confiscated objectionable material that linked some prisoners to an international drug cartel In addition to many mobile phones.

Police sources said the search was started around 6 am and lasted for a few hours. The Deputy Commissioners of Police – North, South and Headquarters led the operation which involved more than 300 police personnel.

Police sources said that the police personnel, divided into different teams, checked every room looking for banned electronic gadgets and narcotics.

Sources said the search was completed around 8 am and the police teams seized over 150 mobile phones from the alleged possession of foreign prisoners.

Sri Lankan Tamils ​​form a majority in the special camp that accommodates over 125 foreign nationals. Citizens of Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Iran, Russia and Kenya have also been lodged in the camp which is under the administrative control of the District Collector. Apart from the Passport Act, the prisoners were facing pre-recorded cases for their involvement in various offenses including murder, possession of narcotics.

prisoners protest

After the surprise action by the city police personnel, some prisoners started protesting. Some prisoners allegedly climbed a tree inside the camp and another man allegedly threatened to harm himself to register a protest against the seizure of his mobile phone.

The police force was deployed at the special camp as a precautionary measure after the searches were completed, the sources said.