Sunil Shantha who escaped Welikada Prison with support of disguised gang ... cornered

Sunil Shantha who escaped Welikada Prison with support of disguised gang ... cornered

Sunil Shantha. supposed to be a most leading narcotics dealer has fled Welikada Prison recently with the support of a disguised clique. However, on an operation launched by police today the 12th, he was apprehended in Meemure area, it is reported.

It was towards the end of last November that a disguised gang dressed as prison officers has beguiled the security guards and come in a deceptively prepared prison bus and had taken him away after

gaining access to the premises.

This suspect by the name of Sunil Shantha was taken into custody in Horana area with 2 kilos of heroin valued over Rs. 2 crores about 6 months before and he is understood to be a resident of Galle. He has been identified as a main accomplice of Susev and Siddick who are supposed to be leading narcotics dealers.

The suspect has made several attempts to escape from Kalutara Prison and an incident is reported where he had tried to escape by giving a bribe of 5 crores. Later he was transferred to Colombo remand prison. The suspect had been detained at a special cell for suspects. However, according to a sharp plan it had been possible to load this suspect into a false prison bus in that premises near the hospital and thus make good his escape.

This suspect who was expected to be brought from Kegalle prison and posted to Colombo remand was expected to be detained at Kalutara prison. The reason for it was that he was to appear for a case at Matugama court. For this reason the disappeared prisoner had changed to Kalutara that day as denoted in record books and he has left from Welikada in a bus hat had not heading to Kalutara but in a bus belonging to a disguised gang. However by the time it came to light, he had already made his getaway.

Though he has fled in hiding in a prison bus, prison officers had not been aware of it immediately that day. This incident came to light for the first time when the said suspect had not turned up for the Kalutara court case which was scheduled to be heard, and when checked from Kalutara prison. According to investigations carried out in that connection, it has been possible to corner the suspect in Meemure area.