Robbers who ransacked 77 lakhs of salary-pay in Ragama ... apprehended
The sum of Rs. 77 lakhs transported in a van being the month-end salaries to a private firm situated along Kadawatha Road, Ragama last 26th when a gang had come in a motor vehicle had fled after plundering this money. It is of special significance to note that police were efficient enough to apprehend the robbers concerned within the space of a week.
This robbery was committed after having pursued the van carrying salaries of a certain garment
factory situated in Wattala after which the vehicle was blocked and weapons were shown to the occupants in the van. After the robbery the marauders had opened fire on two wheels of the van after which they had got into the motor vehicle and beat a retreat towards Kadawatha. Clues were received that there were 4 robbers inside the motor vehicle.A particular employee who was sacked from service from this garment factory a few days ago had provided information to another group and this robbery had been thus carried out in this manner, it was found. This information was exposed when 5 suspects inclusive of the main suspect S.F. Jagath were taken into custody by the crime branch of Peliyagoda Division yesterday (03) in which instance this information was confirmed.
Police say that it was possible to recover two T56 weapons, 46 rounds of ammunition, 2 magazines, a motor vehicle, mobile phones and a cash sum of Rs. forty lakhs and fifty one lakhs of the robbed money in the possession of the suspects. About 2 weeks before the robbery the sacked employee of the garment factory had been engaged in a game of poker at a funeral house when he had come across this marauder and on that occasion he had given a tip-off to carry out this robbery.
It has been found that S.F. Jagath is a deserter of the Sri Lanka Army as revealed in the investigations. After acquiring the said information S.F. Jagath had conveyed this information to a friend by the name of Pushpe living in Tangalla area. Having secured two T56 weapons required for the robbery with the support of a Lance Corporal attached to Sri Lanka Army Maduru Oya Camp, had joined the team of robbers. The motor vehicle which was necessary for the robbery too was secured from Matara after paying Rs. 23,000 on a rental basis for a period of 2
days. In order to change number plates of the vehicle, they had removed a number plate from a motor vehicle from a place where vehicles were repaired in Kalalgoda area in Talangama last 29th night, it was revealed at inquiries.
The team of robbers comprising 5 members had given chase to the van carrying monies of the said commercial establishment and after aiming three gunshots had grabbed the bag of money and then fled. A Welder too is connected to the robbery and the sacked employee who provided the clue was remunerated with Rs. 5 lakhs by S.F. Jagath while other members of the gang were paid Rs. 14 lakhs each, he had confessed in the presence of the police.
After the 5 suspects were produced before Negombo Magistrate Court yesterday (03) are now being subjected to interrogation under 24 hours detention orders, police say. The Police Spokesman mentioned that in securing information for the raid the most modern technological equipment not used previously were utilised. Published below is a report on the day of the incident
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