Teen arrested over double murder in Deraniyagala

The police have made an arrest in connect to the double murder incident reported from Deraniyagala earlier this week, police said.

The police spokesperson’s office said an individual believed to have involved in the case was apprehended following a raid carried out at the Sri Pada forest reserve early hours of this morning.

The suspect is identified as a 19-year-old person who is a resident of Magala area in Deraniyagala.

The suspect was evading police since Tuesday morning and five police teams had been deployed to locate him, the officials said.

The police had recovered the bodies of a seven year old girl and another person on Tuesday morning. According to police, a personal dispute between the suspect and members of deceased’s family have caused the incident. The mother of the child, who sustained life-threatening injuries following the assault, is undergoing treatment at the Colombo National hospital.

The suspect will be produced before the Awissawella Magistrate’s Court today.