News

Army thwarts Pillayan’s bid to free bank robbery suspect

A senior army officer yesterday accused Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan of trying to secure the release of one of the main suspects in the Puttur bank robbery.
Security Forces Eastern Commander Boniface Perera told the Sunday Times, “On hearing of what was taking place, I rushed a special motorcycle squad to the area and detained the suspect who was later taken to the police under heavy armed guard.”

The suspect along with four others had allegedly robbed some Rs. 3.5 million in cash and 27 kilos of gold with an estimated value of Rs. 150 million from the People’s Bank in Puttur in Batticaloa town.Police say the suspect identified as Pradeepan was a former frontline LTTE activist who later joined the ranks of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) led by Mr. Chandrakanthan who is better known as Pillayan.

The other four suspects involved in the robbery are also supporters of the TMVP and they were rounded up on the instructions of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksha, Maj: General Perera said.
Investigators are now trying to ascertain whether the same gang was responsible for similar crimes committed in the east and elsewhere. (See related story on Page 12)

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
US delivers demarche: Refer LLRC report to UNHRC
Humanitarian operation: Defence Ministry report tomorrow
Norway killer for Muslims’ eviction from Sri Lanka
Army thwarts Pillayan’s bid to free bank robbery suspect
President orders review of GF project
Uthayan news editor brutally attacked
Developed nations may adopt protectionist policies
Indian company rigged to drill Mannar basin free of taxes
KDU to explore post-conflict development challenges
Oral submissions by Prosecution on Sep. 9
Lanka seeks urgent meeting with Indian Minister on fishing dispute
Ranil links Lanka’s demand with South Sudan’s C’wealth entry
‘The people of the north and east have spoken, now the govt. must listen’
Lanka to get WiFi zones
Sigiriya frescoes threatened by construction work, warns activist
Creating a Rwanda for Rwandese
Now, Sinharaja under ‘road-threat’
Villagers block junction demanding solution to Human-Elephant Conflict
Ex-DIG Traffic warns cops against misleading signals to motorists
London bound bank-robber family had inside help
UGC dissolves SE Uni Council two months before expiry
Teledramas should not disrupt studies, says President
Kap ceremony to launch Kandy perahera
Missing NGO worker’s body found in partly built house
7-year search for missing Lieutenant ends in cemetery
High rejected votes due to lack of voter education: monitors
Kumari’s selfless courage, guides her visually impaired family to success
MIRACLE or CORRUPTION: More palmyrah plants on Kalpitiya highway
Veggies and faecal matter at the Dambulla Market
Order for clean lunch boxes
CBK’s morning after thoughts
Lesson from Bangladesh: Electoral system begs a change

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2011 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution