Eight individuals, including the wife of a senior police officer, were arrested by Anuradhapura Police for allegedly engaging in illegal treasure hunting near a temple site in the Shravasthipura, Thibirikadawala area.
Eight individuals, including the wife of a senior police officer, were arrested by Anuradhapura Police for allegedly engaging in illegal treasure hunting near a temple site in the Shravasthipura, Thibirikadawala area.
The suspects — both men and women aged between 35 and 58 — are residents of Badulla, Maligathenna, Padavi-Sripura, Giradurukotte, Warakapola, and Anuradhapura. Among them is the wife of a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police currently serving in the Colombo area.
Police made the arrests based on a tip-off about suspicious activity near the historic Raththarange Devalaya. The group was allegedly digging inside a rock cave on a private property adjacent to the temple.
During the operation, officers seized several tools used in the excavation, including mammoties, crowbars, and iron rods.
All eight suspects were produced before court yesterday (14) and were ordered to be remanded until August 26.
