Authorities are looking into the Sittwe prison riot that happened on October 6, said Police Lt-Col Maung Maung Soe from Rakhine State police force.

Some prisoners attacked an officer and a staff when they went to summon prisoner Kyaw Kyaw for drug related issue in the prison. No prisoners were hurt during the riot, said the police Lt-Col.

“The prison authorities informed about it in the morning. The prisoners wanted to demand something. We went to the prison to provide security. The prison officials called forth Kyaw Kyaw to be interrogated but he refused to come with them. They got into a quarrel and the prisoners attacked the officials. An officer and a staff sustained minor injuries. Some prisoners demanded some issues they had and the prison officials negotiated with them. Officials from Correctional Department and the prison warden also made negotiations with the prisoners. Police Brig-Gen Mya Win invited the prisoners to come to the meeting room at 1:45 pm. The six representatives led by prisoner Aung Kyaw Thein came to the meeting room. The dispute was settled and they went back to their rooms around 4 pm. They demanded to improve their living conditions in the prison. The officials from Correctional Department came to investigate the cause of the riot,” he said.

The prisoner that started the riot may get take action against with the rules and regulations of the prison. More than 1,000 prisoners are living in the prison but didn’t hear the complaints from the prisoners that the prison was overcrowded.

He continued to assure the public that there was no need for more worries as the riot has been contained and quelled.