Wildlife officers surrender

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Seven wildlife officers wanted in connection with an incident where two police officers and two civilians were abducted and assaulted in the Udawalawa National Wild Life Reserve, surrendered to the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court, Police Media Spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody said.

The incident occurred on January 22 when a group of police officers from the Walana Anit Vice Squad raided an area in the Udawalawa National Reserve, which is provided security by Wild Life officers. Meanwhile, a group of armed persons are alleged to have abducted two police officers and two civilians and assaulted them.

The assaulted police officers were admitted to the Tanamalwila hospital.

However, a subsequent raid by Police helped detect six acres of cannabis plantations in Deniguragala and Orukolagala.

Eighty one kilos of dried cannabis were seized and two suspects arrested with a 12 bore shot gun and four mobile phones in their possession.