Notorious gang in South, nabbed

Weligama police said that three males and a female, belonging to an infamous gang in the south, were taken into custody on suspicion for questioning while they were stealing jewellery and money in the possession of women who they abducted in motor vehicles.

These suspects were residents of Walgama in the Matara police division, aged 34,44 and 52 years. They were all married and the 44-years-old suspect is said to be an Island Re-convicted Criminal (I.R.C).

Acting on a complaint made by a woman residing in Kapugama in Devinuwara on February 8, 2020, the police were able to arrest this group. The complainant, a widow had been taken to Denuwala in a motor vehicle by the gang leader, in the pretext of helping her when she came to Matara bus stand. He had fled after forcibly removing two rings of the driver of the motor vehicle. Later, the people who came in the vehicle had taken the complainant to Nupe and dropped her safely.

The vehicle that had been used by this criminal gang and had been taken on a monthly rent of Rs.80,000 was taken into custody by the police.

A visa card, gold chain with a pendant, two gold bangles, gold wrist-let, two gold rings studded with precious stones and a sum of Rs. 11,000 had been stolen from the complainant. The value of the gold jewellery was Rs.260,000. Two rings and the visa card had been recovered with a gold nugget from the suspect (52). He was a goldsmith who was charged for keeping stolen goods on two earlier occasions as well.

It has been revealed that this criminal gang had been engaged in similar robberies in Galle, Tangalle and Angunakolapelessa too. In order to apprehend the suspects, G.P.S technology and CCTV cameras were used.

A team of police officers including police sergeants: Sarath Gamage (19931), S.A.Palitha (18293), J.A.Sarath (36049) and PC J.W.P Samantha (55906), P.D.T.Madushanka (39936), L.W.Karunanayake ( 78909) and WPC C.A.Indika (5314) carried out the raid with the advice of Matara SSP Anil Priyantha and with the directions of Weligama HQ IP Krishantha Lokuge and SI and Acting OIC of the CID D.M.J Ranathunga.

Arrangements are being made by the Weligama police to produce the suspects before the Matara Magistrate's court.  (Sunil Dharmabandu de Silva)