Exposure of how secretary of Galthenna Badrakali Devala got together with contractor and carried out the gold robbery

Exposure of how secretary of Galthenna Badrakali Devala got together with contractor and carried out the gold robbery

A posse of policemen were able to arrest three suspects of the clique robbed jewellery worth Rs. 8 crores weighing 12 kilos and about Rs. 20 lakhs in cash after barging into Galthenna Shri Badrakali Amman Kovil, Thalathuoya, Kandy at dawn of day before yesterday (25) and also the person who designed the robbery after having tied up the hands and legs of the kapu mahatha in charge of the devala and also the workers and a female employee as well after which they were gagged and put inside a room. The arrest was made on suspicion by the policemen yesterday (26) and one of them
happens to be an army soldier. A Thalathuoya police officer said that the chief secretary of that devala too is among those who organised the time period in this connection. 

Police say that they were able to find the stock of jewellery, gold-plated watches and some gems found in tusks robbed from the devala buried in a yard in Muruthawala area belonging to Peradeniya police division where chief secretary of of the davala was residing. Police say that on information revealed by this suspect after which investigations were conducted when these were detected. 

Police further say that they were successful in identifying and apprehending the suspects even before 12 hours elapsed after the robbery. Police have launched a wide-scaled search operation to apprehend three soldiers who are supporters  supposed to be deserters from the army and who were accomplices in this robbery. During interrogation of the three suspects taken into custody this information was revealed. A police officer said that it was revealed at inquiries that the sum of 20 lakhs robbed from the devala by suspects already in custody and other suspects on whose trail the police are has been shared equally among them. 

Police say that the stock of jewellery and the gold-plated watches were so buried till such time as they could be sold. The suspects have been arrested across investigations on images reflected on a CCTV camera. It was by officer in charge of Thalathuoya police, inspector of police Mr. M.D. Aruna Krishantha and a police team who apprehended the suspects after investigations were carried out under special instructions and guidance by Kandy district inspector general of police and acting deputy inspector of police of Kandy district, Mr. Chandana Alahakoon. 

Inspector of police, Mr. Krishantha who came to know of this robbery at Galthenna Shri Badrakali Devala promptly has visited scene concerned and commenced inquiries. Thus police were able to observe when perusing cctv footage of a barber salon behind the devala of how suspects had got onto the 20 foot wall with the aid of a rope while having their faces masked during dawn day before yesterday and had thus after the robbery and then getting down from the same rope which was used earlier.When inspecting yet another CCTV frame of recordings the three-wheeler in which gang of robbers had come was observed and police have directed the number of that vehicle to motor traffic commissioner department and have subsequently secured its registration number of which the owner happens to be a female. 

The owner was contacted and when questioned from her it was found that the said three-wheeler was given to her brother on a hiring basis ans as a result he was initially arrested by police. The driver of this three-wheeler too has been involved in the robbery and on information extracted from him the other suspects were taken into custody. 

Police say that a Buddha statue was being erected at devala premises and its contract was taken by a former army soldier. Information has been received by police to the effect that this former soldier-contractor has gone and engaged in this robbery by getting together with a group of his friends. Police further say that kapu mahatha had decided to sell the stock of jewellery received as donations received by the devala and when the suspect secretary was informed about this, the kapu mahatha was told not to dispose of those immediately and that he would find a person for that purpose. 

Police further say that in the event when kapu mahatha has opened the devalaya and was getting ready to engage in religious services; the gang of robbers have barged in and had committed the robbery. It was also revealed at police investigations that two suspects who were participants of this robbery had on a number of occasions prior to the robbery had strolled around the devalaya and had gathered required information. The three-wheeler in which the robbers had come was taken into police custody. Suspects so arrested are residents of Peradeniya, Gampola and Katugasthota areas. 

- Shrinath Prasanna Jatasuriya -