Ranminitenna tragedy: six suspects in custody

Raja Waidyasekera Tissamaharama special corr

A special police squad took into custody another six suspects in connection with the murders and kidnappings at Ranminitenna, senior DIG Jayantha Wickramaratna said.

The six were taken into custody following information provided by two suspects loitering in the Ranminitenna area on November 22.

The two are under interrogation. These suspects are residents of villages around Yala, the senior DIG told the Daily News. All suspects are hunters, police said. Among the eight suspects taken into custody is an Army deserter and several others who are fluent in Tamil.

Police said these suspects had a connection with the Ranminitenna incident. DIG Wickramaratne said they enter the Yala park as poachers and keep company with the LTTE.

It was also revealed that these suspects provide information to LTTE cadres. These suspects also possess fire arms and ammunition. A special police squad has been deployed to take the arms into custody.

The police suspect the Army detachment at Yala was attacked with the suspects’ knowledge. The senior DIG told the Daily News that several police teams have been deployed to take into custody more suspects.