News
Asbestos sheet in roof cut open to gain access
The main suspect in the abduction of a four-year-old in the Digama area in Wellawa was arrested by the police yesterday morning. He was arrested nearly two kilometres away from the place where the abducted child was found on Friday evening.
The victim, Pamara Keshani Wijekoon was reunited with her parents by the police following a medical examination done yesterday by Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Acting Judicial Medical Officer K.K Weerakkody. He stated that the child was unharmed.
Following a tip-off by the brother of the suspect to a shopkeeper, who later informed the police, little Pamara was found in the house in Neriyawa in Kurunegala, where she was held captive for three days by the main suspect and his mother.
The child reunited with her parents
Nine police teams were deployed to locate the child and following her discovery six teams were on the look out for the suspect who was in hiding in the shrub jungle near the house. Police said that the suspect identified as Illeperuma Arachchilage Gamini, was involved in other criminal activities. The mother of the suspect was also arrested for aiding in abducting and keeping the child against her will. Other suspects, including a man who performs rituals, were freed following the arrest of Gamini.
Mr. Wijekoon, the father, said he saw a light falling into the house and felt that the house was bathed in moonlight. He explained that the asbestos sheet over the bed his son and daughter slept in, was cut open. Suspecting something dreadful has happened to his child he had called the police emergency line.
Meanwhile police told the Sunday Times that criminals have attempted to kidnap children on two other incidents during this week. They said that the suspects have tried to enter the houses via unprotected entrances just as in the abduction of Pamara.