Police round up two criminal gangs

Sandasen Marasinghe

Two notorious gangs wanted in connection with a series of vehicle thefts, ransom demands and burglaries were round up by the Police on Tuesday. The gang operated in Avissawella, Ingiriya, Navagamuwa, Hanwella, Hebuwana, Kalutara North, Bandaragama and Horana. The Police seized a van and five motor cycles from the suspects' possession. A locally manufactured firearm was also seized from the possession of one suspect.

Four suspects were arrested from Hanwella while another suspect was arrested from Kalutara.

Officers of the Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit conducted the raid and arrested the suspects. Police Spokesman SP P M H B Siriwardena said the gang had hijaked vehicles by threatening the owners with firearms and demanded ransom by threatening people with death in Avissawella, Ingiriya, Nawagamuwa and Hanwella.

One was to be produced before the Avissawella Magistrate while the others were to be produced before Pugoda Magistrate yesterday.

The Police Spokesman said the other suspect was arrested at Galhena junction, Thebuwana in Kalutara. Kalutara Police officers seized four stolen motorcycles and a Moped from his possession. He was to be produced before the Kalutara Magistrate yesterday.