Attempted abduction in Polpithigama

Escape from abduction .... by mother and child!
                Son of former PC member inside vehicle!

An incident where a married woman and her three and half year old child was abducted and taken away in a motor vehicle by 3 persons forcibly and when they were observed by the police, they had given chase and finally being rescued, was reported from Polpithigama.

The son of a former PC member of the North-West Province and his son have been taken into custody on suspicion in connection with this incident.

This kidnapping has taken place when Nadeeka Nilmini (30) living in Galwewa, Polpithigama had been going on foot to her husband's electrical workshop last morning (21) around 11.45 with her only son Damsara Denuwan. The abduction has happened in an area in a stretch of fields where houses are not to be seen in the vicinity.

The police had pursued them after receiving some information regarding this in which instance, in order to escape the police, the mother and son had been abandoned by them in a by-lane and had fled in the motor vehicle, it is understood.

Nadeeka Kumari who was abducted had been admitted to Polpithigama District Hospital for treatment and for a medical examination. This is what she had to say: "My husband is carrying on an electrical workshop in Galtangwewa area. It's about a kilometre from our home. When going there, suddenly a vehicle stopped at a lonely place. They pulled both of us and put us inside the vehicle. There were 3 people inside. I know one person. He's a son of a North-West PC member. The other two I don't know. One of them grabbed my son. The other person pointed a knife at my chest and threatened me asking me not to shout. But because of fear, I shouted. In the process they stopped the vehicle and started changing the number plates of the vehicle. At that point I opened the door and jumped out. They then got hold of me once again and put me inside the vehicle. Some three-wheeler men saw all this and gave chase behind us.

They knew that the police too were chasing us. Later the vehicle turned into a by-lane and stopped half-way and then warned us not to say anything to the police and then left us abandoned there like that.

Later, when I went to a place closeby with my son, a Polpithigama Police jeep arrived at that place. I later came to know that that area was Wellawa, Kekulawala. When jumping out of the vehicle both my knees struck the ground and was injured. They didn't do any other harm to us.

Polpithigama Police say that they had taken the suspected number plate KD 8966 found on the way, into their custody while Weerambugedera Police has taken the motor vehicle into their custody which incidentally had fled the scene and also 2 residents of Polpithigama area, and they are starting investigations.

The police say that among those taken into custody is the son of the former PC member.

Details -- Sidath Kelegama -- Polpithigama
                Sunil S. Pellandeniya