Army Sgt, ex-soldier arrested for stealing firearm from Panagoda camp

An Army Sergeant and a former army soldier have been arrested for stealing a T56 firearm and 90 rounds of ammunition from the Panagoda Army camp sentry.

The Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division opened a probe over the theft of a T-56 firearm and 3 magazines containing 90 rounds of ammunition issued to a soldier who was on duty at the Panagoda Army camp sentry on March 3.

As such, an ex-army soldier from whom the firearm and ammunition were stolen and another army sergeant who was in possession of the firearm were arrested near the Homagama cemetery.

Police said the firearm and ammunition were also recovered.

The 30 and 36-year-old suspects from the Middeniya and Veyangoda areas, are to be produced before the Homagama Magistrate today.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)