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Rathgama killings: Two transferred PCs absconding
View(s):Police are looking for two of the five constables, who were transferred to Colombo by the IGP, two weeks ago, following the deaths of two Rathgama businessmen
The five policemen were formerly of the Southern Province Special Criminal Investigation Unit (SPSCIU). Two of them are yet to report for duty after their transfers.
“The CID is looking for them; they are wanted for questioning over the Rathgama murder inquiry,” a senior Police officer said.
The two victims, 33-year-old Manjula Asela Kumara and 31-year-old Rasin Chinthaka were abducted on January 23 by a group of 13 men, including five men in police uniform.
Last week, a Sub Inspector of Police and a PC attached to the SPSCIU were arrested over the abduction and killing of the two individuals from Rathgama, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.
Both suspects were produced before the Galle Magistrate and remanded till March 13. Earlier, the Galle Chief Magistrate had issued an overseas travel ban on the five PCs.
The arrests bring the total number of police officers on remand, over the incident, to six–a Chief Inspector, an Inspector, two SIs and two PCs.
A forest officer was also arrested by the CID, on information obtained by interrogating a PC who had surrendered to the CID. Police also searched a lake in Galle with the aid of Navy divers and recovered two mobile phones, which were identified as belonging to the victims. The phones are to be sent to the Government Analyst for forensic analysis.