Ransom-seekers invade Hanwella -- Villagers throw away telephones to safeguard themselves

Ransom-seekers invade Hanwella -- Villagers throw away telephones to safeguard themselves

Inmates of prison of the underworld and other suspects have from time to time been demanding ransoms over the phone and in order to be free from these ransom-seekers most residents of Hanwella, Embulgama, Nawagamuwa, Ranala, Attygala and Jalthara areas have disconnected their domestic telephones, police sources say. As these culprits are for most of the time calling phone numbers starting with 0112-415 ... permanent telephone lines beginning with those numbers have

been disconnected in this manner, a high-rank police officer mentioned.

This news sources say that so far 8 complaints have been received by Nawagamuwa police in connection with these ransom-seekers and 13 complaints from Hanwella police. This incident has been exposed from an investigation carried out across a telephone call in relation to an incident of demanding a ransom over the telephone by an inmate called Welikande Sudda. 

A high officer said that information has been received that some people fearing the ransom-seekers have not complained to police and have paid the monies demanded. The South West Criminal division (Mirihana special crimes operation unit) have conducted investigations in this connection and a host of persons had paid ransoms and several bank reports have been secured to that effect, police sources say. Police sources further say that most people who have paid ransoms in this manner have not divulged any information about it to any police station as such. 

- Indika Ramanayaka -