Hunt on for kovil raiders
The police were yesterday hunting for a gang of thieves who raided donation boxes at four different kovils in Vavuniya last night and got away with an undisclosed sum of money.
According to investigators, the gang had also damaged property at kovils during the robberies.
The modus-operandi in all four incidents were the same leading the police to believe that the same gang was responsible for the robberies.
Vavuniya Police are investigating.
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Man held for vandalising Buddha statue
A 30-year-old man was taken into custody on Wednesday for allegedly vandalising a Buddha statue at Mawanella, police said.
They said the suspect, a drug addict, is also alleged to have broken into several donation boxes at places of religious worship earlier.
The suspect is a resident of Hettimulla in Kegalle.
Mawanella police are investigating.
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Prankster gets jail term
A man was arrested at Dehiwela for allegedly misleading the police with a fake call to the 119-emergency hotline.
The 48-year-old man who had returned to the country recently from the USA had allegedly provided false information of an incident in Kandy, police said.
The motive for the call was not known. The man was produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate and remanded until January 21.
“The 119 police emergency unit was introduced into the Police Department in to act swiftly on public complaints and to deal with emergency situations.
“No one should abuse this facility,” a senior police official said.
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PS member held for sexual harassment
A member of the Yakkalamulla Pradeshiya Sabha was taken into custody for alleged sexual harassment of a 27-year-old widow, a senior police official said. Investigations have revealed that the victim, a mother of three, was allegedly harassed at Bataketiya, Yakkalamulla, the official said.
He added that the suspect was also a relative of the woman.
The 46-year-old suspect was produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court and remanded until January 19.
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Restaurant owners taken to the cleaners
A gang posing-off as health workers are alleged to have ripped-off sums of money from unsuspecting restaurant owners in Badulla, according to the police.
They said the suspects identifying themselves as Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) had told their victims that their restaurant operations had violated the health guidelines and Rs. 45,000 was needed from each person to obtain a health clearance certificate.
The suspectstold their victims that the payments should be made by the Easy Cash system and five telephone numbers were provided to this end, police said. Investigators also believe that a regional PHI may be involved with the gang.
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Freedom bid ends for two escapees
Two from the group of five inmates that escaped from the Gallella Treatment Centre in Polonnaruwa on New Year’s Eve have been rounded up while a hunt is on for the others, police said.
The inmates were earlier remanded in the Negombo Prison and were transferred to the treatment centre after they contracted the Covid-19 virus, they added.
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Drunken son clubs father to death
An enraged son is alleged to have clubbed his aged father to death with a mammoty following a heated argument between the two, police said.
The incident took place at their home at Kahawatte on Thursday, police added.
They said the suspect was under the influence of alcohol.
The 72-year-old victim later succumbed to his injuries at the Embilitiya Hospital, police added.
Kahawatte Police are investigating.
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Woman killed in funeral fury
The police are hunting for a man who is alleged to have rammed his car into a relative killing the woman on the spot at Welimanana, Matugama in the early hours of Friday.
The incident took place at a funeral home following an argument between two groups, police said.
They added that the 62-year-old victim was killed when she attempted to calm down the two groups.
Matugama Police are investigating.
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Two opt for easy way out
A woman and a man hanged themselves in separate incidents reported from Jaffna and Nawalapitiya yesterday.
The 48-year-old woman hanged herself inside her home at Ariyala, Jaffna while the 34-year-old man committed suicide in a railway quarters at Nawalapitiya, police said.
The motive for the suicides were not known. The police are investigating.
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Treasure thief on the mat
A man who is alleged to have stolen several antiquities was busted in an undercover operation carried out by a Special Task Force (STF) operative at Rajanganaya, Anuradhapura yesterday, police said.
A copper Karandu, three statues of Hindu Gods, an ancient casket, a metal belt and a sword were also recovered from the suspect, police said.
The man was arrested while attempting to sell the items to the STF undercover operative, police added.
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Fraudster in school scam arrested
A man was arrested after he was alleged to have collected Rs. 600,000 from a parent to admit a child to a leading school in Galle, police said.
They said the victim was persuaded to part with the cash after the suspect had claimed to be connected with top officials in the Government.
The suspect was picked up from his residence at Bentota-Miriswatte.