28-year-old arrested over torching 17-year-old student

• The boy suffered serious burn injuries to his arms and neck

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

A 28-year-old man was arrested by a special police team in  Ampitiya yesterday over torching of a 17-year-old child who had obtained 9A’s  in the 2021 G.C.E Ordinary Level exams, the police said.   

The police said that the suspect was a member of a criminal  gang and had a hand grenade in his possession at the time of his  arrest.

   
The 17-year-old victim, a resident of Meekanuwa, Ampitiya  had been confronted by the suspect on Saturday night (November 26) while  returning home with his family members.   
The suspect, who had borne a torch in his hand, along with a  bottle of kerosene, had confronted the boy in agitation and had thrown  kerosene and the torch in the victim’s direction.   
The 17-year-old suffered serious burn injuries to his arms and neck, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.  

Investigations led by Kandy Police revealed that the suspect is a drug addict with a criminal record.   

Several Police teams had been deployed to arrest the suspect who had fled the area soon after.