The Wennappuwa police investigating the killing of a 5-year-old girl have arrested a 45-year-old person in connection with the incident.

On-going investigations have revealed that the suspect took the girl from her house at Waikkal last Friday (13) with the knowledge of her father who had been drunk at that time.

Senior DIG Nimal Mediweka told The Island that the suspect and her father had consumed liquor at her home. He said that the suspect had taken the girl, though both her father and mother been at home. Although the Wennappuwa police had been alerted by them subsequently and a team rushed to the suspect’s home, police failed to save her. Under interrogation, the suspect had said that he strangled her to death after raping her.

DIF Mediweka said that the tragedy could have been avoided. The victim’s parents should not have allowed a drunken man to take away their child, even if he was known to them, he said.