Stock of sand released by force

• The racketeers included several women as well

By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe

The racketeers including several women had waylaid and secured the release by force of a tractor load of sand seized by the wildlife officers during a raid on an illicit sand mining site in Thabbowa national park.   

The wildlife officers in Wanathawilluwa and Eluwankulama wildlife zones who carried out a raid on illicit sand mining in Ralmaduwa area in Thabbowa national park had seized a tractor transporting sand and arrested a suspect.   

However, on their way to the wildlife conservation office, the racketeers including several women had obstructed their way and dropped the stock of sand by the roadside and taken away the tractor.   

They pointed out that the racketeers who pulled down the electric fence had been carrying on the racket.   

Wildlife officers, and a STF team from Puttalam had launched a search operation to arrest the suspects.