30 April 2019 04:15 pm
Four men including a coordinating secretary of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen were arrested by the Adampan police following the discovery of 10 detonators during a search in Wedithalathivu, Mannar on Monday.
47-year-old Mohamed Zanus believed to be on of the minister's coordinating secretaries, the Wedithalathivu Rural Bank Manager and two other businessmen were among those arrested. It was reported that the Mr. Zanus is also the Mantai West Co-operative society chairman.
The detonators were recovered near a public toilet located near a shop belonging to Mohamed Zanus, during a search conducted at Erukkalapiddi in Wedithalathivu.
The arrested suspects will be produced in the Mannar Magistrate’s Court and the Adampan Police are investigating the incident to determine who had brought the detonators.
Meanwhile, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) said today that none of the coordinating secretaries of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen nor any member of his staff were arrested.
The ACMC said in a statement that Mohamed Zanus, was a former Member of the Mantai West PS representing ACMC, but he is not affiliated to ACMC anymore after he resigned voluntarily.
It said the minister's two officially appointed coordinating secretaries are Jailabdeen Mohammed Naleem and Irshad Rahmathulla. They both attend to their duties regularly at the ministry office, Colombo 3 and not in Mannar. (Sithum Chathuranga)