Thrissur: A complaint by a former inmate of the high-security prison in Viyyur has brought to light the appalling living conditions at the high-security prison.

The plaint, addressed to the Thrissur City Police Commissioner, also revealed the pollution caused by the overflowing septic tanks. “The septic tank in the jail is overflowing, causing environmental pollution. Inmates are also suffering due to the mosquito menace,” the letter said. The inmate, a native of Pathanamthitta, who spent five and a half months in the prison has now launched a legal battle to ensure the welfare of the jail inmates.

His complaint notes that the septage from the overflowing tank flows out of the prison compound through a PVC pipe. The pipe ends in a ditch. When the ditch fills up, the waste flows into the adjacent paddy field, said the complaint. From the paddy field, the waste spreads to waterbodies in the area, leading to severe environmental pollution, the letter added.

Meanwhile, the mosquito menace inside the jail had worsened, forcing inmates to light mosquito repellent coils around the clock, according to the complaint. A copy of the complaint has also been forwarded to the Health Department.