Infanticide
POLICE HQ: At least three infants were allegedly murdered in separate incidents reported from Trincomalee, Bandarawela and Kelaniya during the course of last week.
An enraged young man, aged 21, is alleged to have chopped to death his eight-month old daughter and later cut off his mother-in-law’s right hand in a horrific incident reported from Kappalthurai in Trincomalee.
The suspect described as a drug addict is alleged to have carried out the killing following a domestic dispute. Police are hunting for the suspect. The body of another infant who had been apparently murdered was recovered close to an abandoned house in Ella, Bandarawela. There has been no arrest in this connection as yet. Close to Colombo, the headless corpse of an infant was found in a swamp at Kelaniya River Mawatha.
****
Electrocution turns out to be murder
HABARANA: A woman and her 13-year-old son were found burnt to death in a hut in the middle of a rice field at Habarana last week.
At first it was suspected that the fire had been triggered by an electricity leak from an illegal electricity connection.
However, the post mortem revealed that the victims had been shot and hut and the bodies put to the torch.
A 24-year-old relative has been taken into custody in this connection while police are investigating further.
****
Wife, domestic held over businessman’s death
NEGOMBO: A wealthy businessman in Negombo died in October last year and it was treated as a natural death.
However, relatives had suspicions and the police were called in to investigate. After a probe stretching six months, the police arrested the victim’s wife and a male domestic last week for murder.
The motive for the alleged murder was not clear. Negombo police are continuing investigations.
****
Woman and car grab in Karapitiya
KARAPITIYA: A woman leaving a bank at Karapitiya, Galle was abducted at knife-point along with her car and forced to drive several kilometres before she was ordered to stop.
The suspect ordered the woman out of the car but not before he relieved her of the jewellery she had on her person and a little over Rs. 100,000 in cash.
The suspect left the woman stranded on the road in Rathgama and sped-off.
The car was later found abandoned in Boosa.
****
Gambling during lockdown
MORATUWA: A group of 14 people including six women were rounded up for violating Covid-19 regulations at a make-shift gambling den in Moratuwa last week.
The gambling den was on the upper floor of a plush residence at Moratuwa and the women were believed to be the organisers of the card games.
The place was busted following a tip-off by neighbours.
The group was later charged not only for gambling but for violating Covid-19 health regulations as well, police said.
****
Lawyer on the mat for forgery
COLOMBO: A lawyer who is alleged to have doctored documents for the fraudulent sale of land belonging to a South East Asian Embassy was taken into custody last week.
The fraudulent sale amounted to Rs. 500 million and it was carried out with the help of two other people.
The seller and buyer have also been arrested. The lawyer was rounded up following a lengthy investigation.
****
Credit card scam
MOUNT LAVINIA: A Chinese national was taken into custody along with three others in connection with an alleged credit card scam.
The Chinese national and three locals were picked up from a safe house in Mount Lavinia.
The suspects were traced following several complaints to the police that their personal accounts had been breached by unknown people.
The local suspects have been identified as residents of Kandy, Mount Lavinia and Warakapola.
****
Mechanic dies in bizarre accident
MINNERIYA: A mechanic was crushed to death after nearly 30 tons of cement crashed on him while he was attending to a faulty tyre of the truck that was carrying the load.
The cement load crashed on to the man after the jack supporting the tyre suddenly gave away prompting the truck to tilt and the load of cement crashed down on the man.
He was pronounced dead on admission to the local hospital.