by Kalinga Weerakkody

The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) investigating a spate of bank robberies amounting to Rs. 790,000 lakhs which had taken place in the island including in Kadawatha and Negombo areas yesterday said that four suspects including an army deserter are evading police arrest.

TID sources said a gang of eight including an army deserter, two air forces deserters and one reserve police constable had been involved in this and other large-scale robberies since 1991.

Sources said that four suspects are currently under detention orders including the two air force deserters and the police constable who was serving as a reserve police constable at the time of arrest. Investigations are continuing.

Kadawatha: Kadawatha police yesterday morning arrested two drug addicts wanted in connection with breaking into a liquor shop at Kadawatha town on the eve of Wesak.

Police had recovered a cassette recorder and liquor worth Rs. 10,500 from the suspects’ possession.

OIC (Crimes) N. N. Lawrence said that one suspect who is also a drug addict is evading arrest.

The suspects who are in the age group of 20-25 had committed these offences over the past several years. They had allegedly stolen liquor from the same place on Poya days and on Wesak day while it was closed.

Police said that the owner of the shop had visited the shop on suspicion and had witnessed the robbery on Wesak day. The suspects had managed to flee the area on that particular day.

The suspects were produced before the Gampaha Magistrate Court yesterday. Investigations are continuing under the supervision of OIC Edmond Thilakaratne.