Archives

Wanted for 11 robberies, three murders: Five suspects arrested

by Ranil Wijayapala

Police have arrested five suspects, four Army commandos and a Police sergeant, in connection with major robberies and murders including the failed robbery at Nelum Fashions Garments, Yatiyantota and the robbery of the Watchguard Security firm, Dehiwela.

Kegalle SSP Lional Gallage told the Daily News that they are suspects of 11 robberies and three murders.

Police had recovered one T 56 weapon, four pistols, five hand grenades, 300 rounds of live ammunition along with those suspects. Police are conducting further investigations to arrest four more suspects connected to this gang.

According to reports two of the four arrested Army commandos are deserters.

The SSP said the Ruwanwella Police hunting for suspects of the murder of youth at Devalakanda, Ruwanwella have made these arrests.

Ruwanwella Police investigating the incident of abduction and killing of Samantha Bamunusinghe at a rubber estate in Ruwanwella on July 31, arrested one person called Nimal who was in the company of Bamunusighe for several years at Eppawala.

After the arrest, Nimal had revealed that Bamunusighe was also an Army deserter and had accompanied them for several robberies and the gang had killed him after their failed attempt to rob Rs.7 million in salaries for Nelum Fashion garment employees.

They had killed Bamunusinghe fearing that he would divulge their plan to the Police as he had not accompanied them for the robbery as promised.

The leader of the gang and mastermind of the failed Nelum Fashion Garment robbery in which a Police officer and a clerk attached to the garment factory was killed, was arrested by the Police when he surrendered to Military Police.

According to Police the leader of the gang Narangoda is an Army commando trained in hostage rescue and was attached to the Katunayake Airport.

The van used by the gang for the Nelum Fashion robbery was also found at a garage in Ja-ela with another body colour. Police identified the van as there were gun shots in the windscreen.

It has also been confirmed by Police that the four revolvers seized along with the suspects belonged to the Watch Guard Security Firm.

The four revolvers were found from Bulathsinhala, Nochchiyagama, Kokaviddagama and Karandeniya areas. Police investigations revealed that the gang had committed several murders and robberies in those areas.

The Police Sergeant who had been arrested is working at the Slave Island Police. He was working at Kahatuduwa Police when this gang broke the Security Firm's armoury in Dehiwela.

Ruwanwella OIC IP Rohan Premaratne conducted investigation under the directions of ASP A.G.J. Chandrakumara and SSP Lional Gallage.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager