Indian killed in Sri Lanka prison riot buried under police protection
· World · The Hindu, NDTV
A 73-year-old Indian national from Kerala, Unnikrishnan S, was buried under police protection on September 2 after being killed during a deadly prison riot in Sri Lanka’s Negombo prison on July 5–6. The victim, who had lived in Chennai for over four decades, was arrested in March 2026 for allegedly possessing ganja and was remanded to Negombo prison. The riot, one of Sri Lanka’s deadliest in recent years, left 22 inmates and 10 prison officials dead and over 100 injured, with 81 suspects facing trial. Authorities handed over his clothes and footwear for forensic examination, and officials from the Indian High Commission in Colombo participated in the burial. An identification parade for five suspects was held on September 9, with 11 more scheduled for September 10.
Why it matters
The death of an Indian citizen abroad underscores the risks faced by diaspora members, particularly in volatile environments like Sri Lanka’s prisons. It also highlights the diplomatic efforts by India’s High Commission in Colombo to ensure dignified repatriation and forensic accountability, while the ongoing trial reflects broader concerns over prison security and justice in Sri Lanka.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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