White van abductors exposed

The much publicised white van syndrome that generated a lot of heat in the past and embarrassed the government for allegedly staging abductions of Tamil and Muslim businessmen, was exposed following the arrest of two policemen providing security cover for the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Member of Parliament for Kurunegala district Akila Kariyawasam, along with three other civilians, police sources told the Sunday Observer.

The incident occured last week when four persons travelling in a white van had patronised a restaurant at Dehiwela and tried to walk away without settling the bill. When they were confronted by the employees of the restaurant they were assaulted by the gang who walked threatening to kill cashier who was robbed of Rs 11,000.

The gang then disappeared in a white van according to the proprietor of the restaurant Jayawardena, who lodged a complaint at the Dehiwela Police Station.

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) sleuths later arrested the two policemen who were later produced in court. The two policemen were remanded pending an identification parade.