18 September 2020 11:03 am
The 50-year-old Abdul Sharif Mohamed Rifai alias 'Gotukolaya', the main suspect in the assault of a group of police officers at Atulugama in Bandaragama, had been arrested in Bandarawela this morning.
Police said the suspect was wanted over the assault on police officers and for possession and trafficking of cannabis.
A group of police officers attached to the Bandaragama Police who were conducting a cannabis raid at Atulugama came under attack by a group of residents on September 9 when they tried to arrest the suspect.
The suspect, Mohamed Rifai, escaped from the police custody amidst attacks by the residents.
A total of nine suspects including two women were arrested over the assault in two separate occasions at Atulugama and Kaltota.
Two Sub Inspectors and two women police officers were injured in the attack.
The main suspect will be produced in the Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)