Gang of four robbing Middle East returnees nabbed
By Premalal Wijeratna-- January 16, 2014
A gang of four who had been engaged in criminal activities by robbing money and valuables from Middle East returnees, by offering them transport to their home towns or to the Central Bus Stand in Pettah, have been arrested by the police.
Operating from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, and the Central Bus Stand in Pettah, sources said the robbers offer the returnees soft drinks that are spiked with drugs which the victims consume, and fall asleep after a while. Thereafter, the robbers relieve the hapless victims of the cash and other valuables in their possession.
Some of the stolen items of value that had been recovered by the police from the thieves who were arrested are a car, two 22 inch TVs, an electric cooker, 10 expensive saris, gold chain weighing 7 grams, gold nugget weighing 16 grams, and Saudi Riyals 2,600. The police had also found some tablets that are said to be intoxicants.
The suspects are to be produced at the Mahara Magistrate’s Court. The Crime Division of the Western Province (North) is handling investigations into the criminal activities of the gang of robbers.
Two UNP members arrested in Mawanella
By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody- January 16, 2014 11:09 pm
United National Party (UNP) members; former Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Manju Niroshan Wijesinghe and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Member Upul Shyamal Bandara, were arrested by the Mawanella Police on Tuesday (14) on charges of assault. Bandara is also alleged to have attacked Wijesinghe's guesthouse situated inside a spice garden in the Mawanella Ganethenna area.
At the time of the incident, Wijesinghe had been talking to a friend when Bandara had arrived in a Defender. Wijesinghe's friend is said to have shouted for help when men who were with Bandara had started arguing and causing trouble; at which point another group of men had assaulted Bandara. They had tied him to a tree after Bandara's men had fled. Mawanella Police had admitted Bandara to the hospital.
The Police Media Unit added, "At 6:30 p.m., the Mawanella Police received a 119 call from Wijesinghe stating that Bandara, Kapugedera Upul and Chaminda along with others were attacking him and his house. When the police went to the scene there was no attack on the house and no chairs and tables were broken but a fracas was ensuing. Since Bandara had sustained some injuries and since Bandara had alleged that Wijesinghe had assaulted him, the police have subsequently arrested both parties along with Kapugedera Upul and Chaminda who had come with Bandara."
By Premalal Wijeratna-- January 16, 2014
A gang of four who had been engaged in criminal activities by robbing money and valuables from Middle East returnees, by offering them transport to their home towns or to the Central Bus Stand in Pettah, have been arrested by the police.
Operating from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, and the Central Bus Stand in Pettah, sources said the robbers offer the returnees soft drinks that are spiked with drugs which the victims consume, and fall asleep after a while. Thereafter, the robbers relieve the hapless victims of the cash and other valuables in their possession.
Some of the stolen items of value that had been recovered by the police from the thieves who were arrested are a car, two 22 inch TVs, an electric cooker, 10 expensive saris, gold chain weighing 7 grams, gold nugget weighing 16 grams, and Saudi Riyals 2,600. The police had also found some tablets that are said to be intoxicants.
The suspects are to be produced at the Mahara Magistrate’s Court. The Crime Division of the Western Province (North) is handling investigations into the criminal activities of the gang of robbers.
Two UNP members arrested in Mawanella
By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody- January 16, 2014 11:09 pm United National Party (UNP) members; former Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Manju Niroshan Wijesinghe and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Member Upul Shyamal Bandara, were arrested by the Mawanella Police on Tuesday (14) on charges of assault. Bandara is also alleged to have attacked Wijesinghe's guesthouse situated inside a spice garden in the Mawanella Ganethenna area.
At the time of the incident, Wijesinghe had been talking to a friend when Bandara had arrived in a Defender. Wijesinghe's friend is said to have shouted for help when men who were with Bandara had started arguing and causing trouble; at which point another group of men had assaulted Bandara. They had tied him to a tree after Bandara's men had fled. Mawanella Police had admitted Bandara to the hospital.
The Police Media Unit added, "At 6:30 p.m., the Mawanella Police received a 119 call from Wijesinghe stating that Bandara, Kapugedera Upul and Chaminda along with others were attacking him and his house. When the police went to the scene there was no attack on the house and no chairs and tables were broken but a fracas was ensuing. Since Bandara had sustained some injuries and since Bandara had alleged that Wijesinghe had assaulted him, the police have subsequently arrested both parties along with Kapugedera Upul and Chaminda who had come with Bandara."
