A three-year-old, who was kidnapped recently from a Buttala Muslim village, was released yesterday after the boy’s family paid a ransom of Rs. 750,000.
A relative of the boy’s father had met the kidnapper at a pre-arranged rendezvous in a lane near the Sammanthurai Malwatte Army Camp and handed over Rs. 150,000 in cash and a cheque to the value of Rs. 670,000. The kidnapper had then run off with the money, and remains at large.
The relative was accompanied by a team of police officers who stopped short of going all the way to the rendezvous point, out of consideration for the child’s safety.
Telephone calls from the kidnapper were traced to a mobile phone signal tower located near the rendezvous point.
Last night the child was in the protective custody of the Buththala Police, and will be produced in court today, after which he will be reunited with his parents. |
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