SSP’s son-in-law in mystery abduction

Mystery surrounds the alleged abduction of a senior police officer’s son-in-law and the demand of half a million rupee ransom – with family members and police telling contradictory stories.

According to sources close to family members, Ranga Indika Perera, son-in-law of Senior Superintendent (SSP) Fabian Mitchele, was abducted in Kotahena by three men who came in the now-notorious white van.

They say the gang demanded a ransom of half a million rupees while police tried to trace Mr. Perera with his father-in-law alerting all police stations and emergency units. By monitoring mobile phone calls, the police said the victim was eventually traced to Mahabage but the site happened to be a house being built by him – adding a strange twist to the drama.

Sources close to family members said the family was compelled by the police to tell this Mahabage house story and not make any other statement, adding more mystery to the puzzle.

But, SSP Jayantha Kulathilka charged that Mr. Perera had engineered his own abduction to get media publicity so that he could apply for British citizenship. He said Mr. Perera had been detained along with a relative and a friend who took part in the alleged abduction drama for further questioning.

But, the sources close to the family still insisted Mr. Perera, who returned from London recently, was abducted and the abductors demanded Rs. 500,000 for his release.