Prisoners with chickenpox 'treated' with petrol

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
(Replacing smallpox with chickenpox) 19 prisoners who are being held in the Batticaloa prison camp and affected by chickenpox are being regularly sprayed with petrol said relatives and others who have visited them.

There are 20 prisoners currently being held in the prison which is run by the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of the Ministry of Defence.

The petrol sprayed at them has aggravated their condition said relatives who were permitted visit them.

4 of the prisoners held are school boys below the age of 18.