Four arrested for photographing tusker Agbo with drone camera

By Kushan Jayawardene and Dayaratne Embogama   

A group of four young men, who attempted to take close-up photos of tusker Agbo with a drone camera illegally were arrested, and the drone camera was seized by Thirappane Police on Wednesday evening.   

Tusker Agbo that had received gunshot injuries in one of its limbs has been released after providing treatment under the care of the Wildlife Department Surgeons and it is now frequenting Thirappane area.   

They were from Kumbukwewa in Maho, Meethotumulla, Kurundankulama in Anuradhapura and Buthpitiya South in Gampaha.   

Police rushed to the scene on information from the public received through Air Force intelligence that they noticed a suspicious drone camera in the Thirappane sky.   
 Investigations revealed that the drone camera used by the suspects belonged to an individual in Maho area. However, the suspects had not obtained permission from the relevant authorities to take photos in that area with a drone camera.   

A senior police official said the Air Force has initiated an investigation regarding the drone camera of a foreign make. He said the suspect were yet to reveal the purpose of taking aerial photos of the tusker.   

The suspects were to be produced before Anuradhapura Magistrate yesterday.