Hunt on for watchman’s killer
PUTTALAM: The police were yesterday hunting for the killer or killers behind the murder of an elderly watchman whose body was found on a coconut plantation in Mundalama-Puttalam earlier this month.
The lifeless body of 63-year-old P. A. Anuruddha Randeniya was found by his wife who had gone in search of her husband when he did not return home for his lunch, police said. The victim had blood deposits from his nose and mouth at the time his body was discovered, police added. Initially police treated the case as a normal death after the victim’s wife told police that her husband had a medical history that included diabetes.
However, a subsequent postmortem held at the Puttalam Base Hospital revealed that the victim had been felled with a heavy blow to his neck and had died instantly.
Police suspect that the victim may have been killed by coconut thieves during a confrontation.
Valentine Day revellers to feel police heat
POLICE HQ: The police have banned all Valentine Day gatherings owing to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country and warned that violators will be strictly dealt with.
According to police certain social media portals have been promoting Valentine Day gatherings and celebrations in various parts of the country.
“This will not be allowed, simply it violates the health guidelines of the Covid-19 pandemic and it is a general threat to the rest of the community”, a senior police official said.
In a related development the police yesterday warned the public about a bogus text message in the social media where gifts were on offer from lovers, in return for a cash deposit.
Goat keeper stabbed to death over dog row
BANDARAWELA: A goat keeper was stabbed to death following a simmering dispute with his neighbour’s pet dogs at a location in an estate in Atampitiya- Bandarawela, police said yesterday. They said the 58-year-old victim, a father of five died instantly in the attack. The incident triggered-off after the neighbour’s dog had fatally bitten a goat.
The neighbour along with another person was arrested in connection with the incident.
Pigeon trader in tobacco scam held
GALLE: A pigeon show owner was arrested after he is alleged to have traded in tobacco with schoolchildren at a location in the Galle Town, police said yesterday.According to police the suspect was picked up along with 19 packets of tobacco, each weighing 10 grams. Police were led to the suspect after a 14-year-old schoolboy attending a prominent school in the area was found to be in the possession of four grams of tobacco.The student later told the authorities that he had purchased the tobacco from the suspect.
Initial investigations have revealed that the suspect had been in the clandestine trade for a considerable period of time.
Jilted schoolgirl plunges to her death
TALAWAKELLE: A jilted schoolgirl plunged to her death in a reservoir at Talawakelle on Friday following a domestic quarrel, police said.
Police quoted witnesses as saying that the girl had jumped into the Upper Kotmale Reservoir from a railway bridge. Rescue teams that included the Navy and police later retrieved her lifeless body a few hours after the incident. The girl had secretly left her home around 6.30am following a quarrel with her mother the previous evening, police added.
Probe into death of seven-year-old
OMANTHAI: A probe has been launched into the death of seven-year-old boy whose body was found in a neighbour’s well at Navavi in Omanthai earlier this week.
The boy had left home earlier in the day for a tuition class nearby and failed to return home at the scheduled time prompting a search by relatives and neighbours, police said.
They added that the boy’s school bag and bottle of water was later found in a nearby paddy field. In a related incident, police are seeking to arrest two suspected power pirates after an eight-year-old boy was electrocuted after he was entangled in a live wire. The incident was reported from a location in Chandanavetti in Sampur on Friday.