By K.R.Rajamantri   

A group of underage girls between 15 and 17 years of age who fled from Keppetipola Yasodara detention home were arrested by the Welimada Police.   

Police said the girls had been detained at the Yasodara detention home on a court order. Investigations revealed they had boarded a Nuwara Eliya bound bus at Keppetipola and travelled to Nuwara Eliya. However, an individual who suspected their behaviour had informed Welimada Police.   

OIC Welimada Police CI Sampath Abeywickrama immediately informed Nuwara Eliya Police that arrested them.   
Police said the girls were residents of Wellawaya, Sevanagala, Bandarawela and Bibila area who had been subject to sexual assaults and handed over to the Detention Centre on a court order.   

They told the police that they decided to flee from the detention centre  due to restrictions on the use of toilets and water, as well as being  threatened and harassed when food was left over.  They boarded the Nuwara Eliya bus without any idea of where to go.

They were to be produced before Welimada Magistrate yesterday.   

OIC Women and Children Bureau W.M.Nirosha Kumari is conducting further investigations on the instructions of OIC Welimada Police Chief Inspector Sampath Abeywickrama.