Cop kidnapped at Dambulla found on Chilaw beach

Prasad POORNAMAL - Puttalam District Group Corr.

A police constable found in Iranawila beach, Chilaw, gagged and with his hands and legs tied, was rescued and admitted to the Chilaw Base Hospital by the Chilaw Police on Thursday around 8.30 p.m. following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Investigations revealed that the constable had been kidnapped at Dambulla by an unidentified group who held him in captivity for two days, making several demands and later taken to Chilaw and dumped in the sea.

The Constable P.M. Thushara Jayalath (23) of Ihala Poththikkulama, Konwewa describing his ordeal from his hospital bed said, “someone stabbed me while I was attending a private tuition class in Kurunegala in April this year. The assailants who admitted me to hospital had then said I had stabbed myself.”

The incident occurred due to a love affair with a girl.

The case involving this incident is due to come up for hearing on July 29. Continuing he said “I was on leave ever since that incident.

‘As I was getting ready to report back to work on July 21 a person involved in the stabbing incident called me and said they wanted to meet me. Later when I went to meet them they bundled me into a white van and took me to an unknown place where they kept me hostage for two days. My abductors demanded me to withdraw the case I had filed against them.

When I refused they said I am useless, tied and gagged me and took me to the beach and dumped me into the sea. I however struggled in the water and managed to roll towards land and get on to the beach with the help of a bystander who was alerted by me. Jayalath is now receiving treatment at the Chilaw Hospital under Police guard. Dambulla and Chilaw police are conducting investigations into the incident.