Cop’s timely intervention prevents tragedy

Suraj A Bandara and Gamini Obeysekara

The timely intervention of a police officer prevented a massive tragedy on the Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa rail track Wednesday night. Three Civil Security Officers had allegedly removed nails from the rail track in Kotaliya when Polonnaruwa OIC Duminda Senanayaka was returning after official duties.

He had noticed a suspicious three wheeler with a gunny bag full of nails and three civil security guards nearby.

He observed that nails of a larger area had been removed and the rail track was in danger of dislocation with the night mail train on her way to Batticaloa.

He immediately informed the Manampitiya station which was the closest station and succeeded in halting the train.

A team of police and railway employees rushed to scene and repaired the rail track. The train three hours late till the repairs were done.

The three civil security officers are now in police custody.

Polonnaruwa police under the supervision of SSP Siril Fernando are conducting investigations.