A racket of robbing necklaces and pushing into wells - Another dead body found near the woman who escaped in Batticaloa

Five suspects have been arrested by the police in connection with the investigations into the young mother who was rescued alive after being thrown into an abandoned well in the Nellikadu paddy field, which belongs to the Batticaloa, Kokkadicholai police division, and another female body found in the same well. In addition, two three-wheelers, a motor car, and a motorcycle have been taken into police custody, and preliminary investigations have revealed that these suspects are connected to several other robberies that occurred in the Batticaloa area.

Last Thursday (19), this young mother, who had come to Batticaloa town from Vawnativu with her two-and-a-half-year-old child, was reported missing. The next day, she was found struggling between life and death in an abandoned well in the Nellikadu area. Her small child was found crying, abandoned in the same paddy field. In addition, a severely decomposed body of another woman was also found by the police inside the same well.

Acting on information received by the District Intelligence Unit, the police within 24 hours arrested three individuals, including a married couple residing in the Kanchirankuda area and the husband's brother, in the Vawnativu area. Investigations revealed that these suspects had offered a ride in their three-wheeler to the young mother and child who were waiting for a bus near the Vawnativu Divisional Secretariat. After the mother, who had gone to the city to redeem pawned gold items and was returning, was given a soft drink and rendered unconscious, a five-sovereign gold chain and a one-sovereign gold necklace were robbed. Subsequently, the child was left in the paddy field, and the mother was thrown into the well. It has also been revealed that the stolen gold items were pawned by the suspects.

Police suspect, based on statements obtained from the arrested individuals, that these criminals may have also murdered the other woman found in the well and disposed of her in the same manner. Relatives have identified the body as that of 45-year-old Ravi Nalayini, a resident of Vammiyadiuttu in the Vellaveli police division, based on her footwear, but this is yet to be officially confirmed after a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, under a court order, with the assistance of the Manmunai Southwest Divisional Council and security forces, the water in the well was completely removed and inspected to check for other bodies, but the police confirmed that no other bodies were found there.

Under the direct supervision of Batticaloa District Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Lalith Leelarathna, a comprehensive operation was launched in connection with this incident by the Kokkadicholai, Vawnativu, Aithiyamalai, Vellaveli, and Batticaloa Headquarters Police, along with the Special Crime Investigation Division and the District Intelligence Unit. As a result of these continuous investigations conducted through CCTV footage and intelligence information, the police were able to locate the suspects and the vehicles used for the crime, including the three-wheeler.