Pundalu-Oya Police have arrested three suspects, including a police officer attached to the legal division, for alleged treasure hunting near the historic Pusulpitiya Raja Maha Viharaya.
The police officer has been suspended.
Among the others arrested were the father of the police officer and a retired soldier. They are residents of Urapola and Pundalu-Oya.Five more suspects involved in this act had fled when the police arrived at that location around 3.30 am on Monday on a tip off received from the villagers. All of them are residents of Pundalu-Oya.
It is said that the suspects had been searching for gold artifacts related to a folk tale. They had exploded a rock in a water stream that flows behind the temple. Tools used to explode rocks including four detonators had been recovered at the spot. The suspects are a group of friends.
The arrested three suspects were remanded till February 8 after producing before the Nawalapitiya Magistrate’s Court.
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