Taxi driver's throat cut and murdered - Suspect army soldier arrested

A soldier suspected of slitting the throat of a garment factory quality controller, who was engaged in a motorcycle taxi service as a side job, and being involved in several other robberies, has been arrested by Homagama Headquarters Police.

The 29-year-old suspect, who serves in the sports division of the Panagoda Army Camp, was taken into police custody at his home in Homagama. At the time of the arrest, police successfully seized a locally manufactured hand grenade, 500 milligrams of heroin, and a motorcycle used for robberies from the suspect.

The person thus murdered has been identified as 41-year-old K.A.D. Rajith Dhanushka, a resident of Samagi Mawatha, Pitipana North, Homagama. The crime occurred on the 16th of last month in the Singha Arana area of Galagahena, Pitipana, Homagama, and the body was found on the bank of a canal in an auctioned land near the Dolahena Pitipana Galagahena Elders' Home.

Police investigations have revealed that the deceased was murdered by the suspect, who slit his throat during the last hired ride the victim took on his motorcycle. Subsequently, the suspect robbed the deceased's motorcycle, wallet, a gold chain weighing one sovereign, and mobile phone before fleeing.

The stolen motorcycle was later found by the police, abandoned in the Moragahahena police division. After presenting the arrested suspect soldier to the Homagama Magistrate's Court, the police have obtained a detention order until the 31st of next month to conduct further investigations.