140 Pigeons Illegally Brought from India Seized in Kalpitiya
By Prasad Purnamal –
Four suspects and 140 pigeons allegedly brought illegally from India by sea were arrested during a special raid conducted near the Kalpitiya Fort on the 05th of September.
The raid was carried out by a special police team acting on the instructions of Kapila Pramadasa, Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Puttalam Division.
According to the police, the pigeons had been brought into the country illegally to be used in pigeon races conducted for money.
A boat, a boat engine and a white Dolphin-type vehicle were also taken into police custody during the raid.
One of the four suspects is a resident of the Mawanella area, while the other three are residents of Kalpitiya, according to information revealed during the investigation.
The value of a single pigeon is estimated to be between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 100,000. Accordingly, the total value of the 140 pigeons seized is reported to be close to Rs. 10 million.
The raid was conducted by a team of police officers under the direction of Sub-Inspector Sugathasiri Fernando, Officer-in-Charge of the Kalpitiya Special Police Raids Unit.
The suspects and the pigeons are due to be produced before the Puttalam Magistrate’s Court for further legal proceedings
– By Prasad Purnamal
