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Gem mining road workers attacked

by Asanga Warnakulasuriya

A high-strung drama between 2500 to 3000 well-organised Kuruwita villagers and a group of alleged road workers was settled by Kuruwita Police on Sunday.

The attack is said to have been launched by the villagers on the group of road workers while they were engaged in gem mining in the guise of carrying out road maintenance work, Kuruwita Police said.

"The alleged road workers who had obtained a licence from the Provincial Council for road maintenance, had instead engaged in gem mining", Kuruwita Police OIC IP Kapila Abeynaike said. The villagers, instigated by the workers gem mining had attacked them and caused damage to two lorries and two vans belonging to them, OIC said.No one was seriously injured in the attack.

According to Police, there was calm in Kuruwita area and no incidents of violence were reported yesterday.

The suspects taken into Police custody were produced before the Ratnapura Magistrate and released on Police bail. Kuruwita Police are conducting further investigation to arrest the suspects who had instigated the people, the OIC said.

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