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More suspects to be arrested for damaging Buddha statues
View(s):Two more suspects allegedly involved in damaging Buddha statues in the Mawanella area are being trailed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Seven suspects already arrested in connection with the emotive incident were remanded by the Mawanella Magistrate till January 2. CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekara visited Mawanella this week along with a team of detectives and is closely following the investigation.
All those who were physically involved in the attacks are now believed to be under arrest, a senior CID officer said. Investigators are looking into whether the men are part of an extremist group bent on creating social unrest and if they have any political connections.
The suspects allegedly rode motorbikes to several locations where Buddha statues are located and damaged them using hammers, initial inquiries show. Two of these hammers were recovered after suspects were questioned.
All the suspects are from Mawanella and between the ages 20 and 30, police said. They are accused of damaging Buddha statues located at two junctions in Randiwala, Mawanella and Hingula, Mahagaththegama. Residents caught one suspect while he was destroying the statues in the early hours of October 26 and handed him over to police. The others were arrested (two of them surrendered) on information he gave. The gang is also suspected to have damaged several kovils and statues of gods at Pothuhera, Peradeniya, Katugastota and Welanboda.
A CID team is investigating with police assistance under the supervision of Kegalle Range Senior Superintendent of Police.
(Additional Reporting by Pradeep Kumara Dharmaratne – Aranayaka)