Retired Naval rating abducted and robbed of Rs. 4.5M, five arrested

By B.G. Chaturanga   

 A gang of five men including two police sergeants, a Civil Security Constable and two others who abducted a retired naval rating at gunpoint and robbed him of Rs. 4.5 million was arrested by Mihintale Police.   
The 44-year-old retired naval rating was a resident of Galenbindunuwewa area running a tourist hotel at Anuradhapura – Trincomalee Road near Mihindu jungle monastery.   
The two police sergeants attached to Polonnaruwa Police were residents of Mahasen area in Polonnaruwa.   
During investigations, the police recovered cash Rs. 01 million connected to the crime. The victim stated to police that the gang travelling by motorcar had entered the hotel and handcuffed him under the pretext of being a police team to record a statement. They had put him in the car by force and taken him to a jungle area in Thirappane and threatened him at gun point to call his wife over the phone to bring Rs. 05 million.   
However, he told them that he had only Rs. 4.5 million in the bank account and called his wife to bring that money. After receiving the money, they released the victim and his wife, who returned to Mihintale and lodged a complaint with Mihintale Police.   
 Police who conducted investigations into the robbery arrested the five suspects involved. They were to be produced before the Anuradhapura Magistrate yesterday. A police team under OIC Mihintale Police CI Chandrasiri Ranjith conducted investigations and arrested the suspects.