Padukka pawn-shop robbery

Girl working in Padukka pawning centre who crept under counter, hiding face .....
 involved in robbery
Police who are conducting investigations into the 200 lakhs robbery from the Padukka pawning centre last February 12th have been able to uncover further information about those involved in the robbery. When 2 persons had come with helmets and threatened the girls working there at the counter, one of the girls had crept under the counter hiding her face and it was she who had supplied all necessary information for the robbery to be carried out. This information has been supplied to none other than her own father who is supposed to be a dry-fish trader and it was he who had directed the proceedings with the aid of disabled soldiers. Mirihana Special Operations Unit had yesterday (Mar 4) taken into custody a disabled Lieutenant at Alawwa Ranaviru Apparels. He had provided automatic pistols to the other two disabled soldiers serving under him, who too were arrested; according to the latter's testimony given by them to the police.

The father of the girl earlier referred to and who is a dry-fish dealer was a resident of Meegoda area and it was he who had planned out this robbery by employing 2 disabled soldiers of Alawwa Ranaviru Apparels to carry out the robbery.

The two of them had told about this to the Lieutenant who was a superior and it was revealed that he too had consented to render his support in this connection.

While this robbery happened last February 12th in the afternoon, the police say, the automatic weapon which was used in this robbery had been handed over to a disabled soldier named Janaka by this Lieutenant
on the 11th afternoon, the previous day itself.

It came to light at the investigations that after this robbery, as a token of gratitude, these two disabled soldiers have given 120 grams of the stolen jewellery to the Lieutenant. Police further say that 9 necklaces and 2 pendants were among those given.

As such, the disabled Army officer is Lieutenant Kumar Rupasingha (30) who was taken into custody. He had been in active service in the Army Singha Regiment and had lost his left leg while in service. Police also say that this Lieutenant is a resident of Kandy.