Three Arrested for Stealing Copper from Electrical and Telecom Cables – Prasad Purnamal
Three suspects have been arrested by Marawila Police over a series of thefts involving electrical and telecommunication cables in several areas, including Marawila, Nattandiya and Dummalasuriya.
The suspects allegedly cut and stole cables from electricity transformers, power supply lines, telecommunication networks and electrical systems of unoccupied houses to extract copper, which was then sold at low prices.
Police said the three suspects, arrested by officers of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Marawila Police, are residents of Dunkannawa and Nattandiya.
The suspects, who are reportedly heavily addicted to drugs, are believed to have been involved in the racket for some time. Police have also recovered a large quantity of copper allegedly sold by them.
The operation was carried out on the orders of Chilaw Senior Superintendent of Police Rohan Perera, under the instructions of Nattandiya Assistant Superintendent of Police Dhammika Hapugoda and the supervision of Marawila Headquarters Chief Inspector Sarath Samarakoon.
Officers of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Marawila Police, headed by its OIC, Police Inspector Chamod Dharmapriya, conducted the investigation.
