Abductors release five demand food, batteries

Rafik Jalaldeen

ANURADHAPURA: Group of armed men abducted four out of nine villagers who had gone for sand mining in the Nagollawa area, Horwpotana on Monday morning. The abductors had demanded released villagers to dispatch food and batteries.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said a group of nine villagers in two tripper truks had gone on sand mining to the Nagollawa area on Monday at around 4.00am. "An armed group clad in black uniforms blocked the villagers and abducted all of them", he added.

The abductors later released five of the villagers and the two tripper trucks and paid them Rs.40,000 to dispatch food items and batteries.

"The abductors warned the villagers to return with their demand else the four villagers under their captivity will not be released and had to face the consequences", SSP Gunasekera pointed out.

Five villagers narrated the incident to Horowpothana police.

STF, police and Army have jointly launched an extensive search operation in the area as security were beefed up.