Four underworld gangsters nabbed

Rafik JALALDEEN

Four underworld gangsters were arrested with a stock of foreign made arms in Colombo and its suburbs on Tuesday and yesterday. A special police team from Grandpass rounded up the Maligawatte area and arrested two underworld gangsters operating in the area on Tuesday around 9.15 p.m. following a tip off, Senior DIG Mediwake said.

Police seized a foreign made 38 type revolver, parts of 38 type revolver, 9.5 mm pistol, one magazine and 24 ammunitions.

“After interrogating the suspects, two more were arrested and arms hidden in their hideout were recovered,” he added.

The SDIG said on information extracted from the alleged underworld gangsters a T56 assault rifle and 51 rounds of ammunition were recovered hidden near Modera Kovil. “It is believed that the T56 rifle was used by the LTTE cadres,” he added.

Meanwhile, an Italy made model 92 Pistol and five ammunitions were recovered in Peliyagoda, a Spain made 7.65 model pistol and five ammunitions were recovered in Gampaha and an England made 7.65 model 19.11 pistol was recovered in Kotahena.

He said the Maligawatte police is conducting further investigation to ascertain whether the alleged suspects have links with crimes committed in the area.