Talangama police foil trishaw driver's 'ransom' demand

It was a nerve-racking experience for Dr. R. Asoka Dayananda when he realised that he has left behind his lap top, diary, two cheque books, the license, the insurance certificate of his vehicle, and some official documents in a trishaw while travelling last month. But it was too late, the trishaw driver had taken off leaving him behind in a desperate situation.

Well the nasty incident occurred at a petrol filling station located along High Level road, Pannipitiya. Not that the employees of the petrol filling station had anything do with the loss. 22nd September 2011 was a busy day for Dr.Dayananda. He left home around 5'O clock in the morning in his car just to be on time at his office. He had a busy schedule that day with several engagements lined up for him. On his way he realised the car needs engine oil. So he pulled up at a petrol filling station and requested the pump attendant for engine oil. As engine oil was not available and the pump attendant told him to try the next filling station which was half a kilometre at Maharagama.

Two things flashed across his mind at that stage, whether to continue to drive the car without oil or to leave it behind with the lap top under lock and key at the Pannipitiya filling station. But on second thought he realised leaving the lap top and other documents even under lock and key was a risky business. He then decided to carry the bag containing the laptop and other documents with him.

He then flagged down a trishaw on High level road and proceeded to a filling station at Maharagama from where he purchased a can of oil. He then returned in the same trishaw to the station at Pannipitiya. According to Dr. Dayananda the trishaw driver appeared to be around 25 years of age and had a friendly disposition. He even refused to accept the trishaw fare, like a good Samaritan. Trusting him to be a genuine person, the doctor left his bag on the trishaw for a few minutes until the service attendants fixed his car. Finally he drove off in his car for about a kilometre and realised his bag with the laptop was in the trishaw.

When he returned to the filling station he found the trishaw and his bag missing. What went through his mind was absolute pain of losing official and confidential information.

Thereafter he lodged a complaint at the police station on the advice of his friends and family.

Two days went past and nothing happened. On the third day an anonymous caller rang up his home and said he was in possession of his laptop and the rest in exchange demanded a sum of Rs. 100,000. He also made it a point a say that he was a trishaw driver and not to inform the police.

On the fourth day there were several calls demanding for money. However on the advice of the police, he bargained with the caller and the 'ransom' money was cut down to Rs. 40,000.

The anonymous caller agreed to deliver the goods at his home around 1.am. He wanted two female members to be at the gate.

Meanwhile the doctor had informed Talangama police and a police mobile party waited in ambush. Finally when the man arrived the policemen pounced on him and arrested the suspect. The doctor was able to recover all his lost items without parting a cents due to quick action on part of the police.

Dr. R. Asoka Dayananda works for the Sri Lanka Program, at the University of Honolulu.

JJ