15 arrested over vandalising Buddha statues further remanded until Jun 27

Fifteen suspects who were charged with vandalising Buddhist statues in Mawanella have been further remanded until June 27.

The Mawanella District Magistrate's Court today (Jun 13) instructed the suspects be produced for an examination on September 12.

Meanwhile, another suspect who had maintained financial dealings through a private bank with the chief suspects in the case has also been remanded until June 27. He has been identified as 24-year old Hizbullah Khan, a resident of Hingula.

Khan had admitted to have had financial dealings with chief suspects M.I.Shahid Abdul Haq and M.I. Sadiq Abdul Haq, two brothers residing in Mawanella. The chief suspects are also among those who have been remanded until further hearing.

During today's hearing, police had submitted a report on the financial transactions of the suspects before court.

The suspects had been brought to court under special security while army personnel too had been deployed around the court for security reasons.