Police chief has pledged not to bow down to political pressure

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chandra Fernando, has told Civil Action Committee that he would conduct a thorough investigation on the matter.

Kotahena police have arrested a suspect on Saturday night when he arrived with a group of armed men to collect a ransom from a businessman from Kochchikade.

Suspect Pubalapillai Kandarajah was arrested but another fled the scene, the Committee said.

Arrested before

Leader of the New Left Front, Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, told BBC Sandeshaya that they have “reliable information” that the leading government figures are putting pressure on the police to release the suspect.

Some police officers alleged that abductions are carried out by the Karuna faction. However, it is clear the group is linked to the government Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne

“We were informed that the same suspect was arrested some time ago but released without a charge by the police,” he said.

Colombo district parliamentarian Mano Ganeshan earlier told bbcsinhala.com that nearly 50 Tamils were abducted in the capital, within weeks.

26 missing

Some were released after paying huge ransoms, but nearly 26 people are still missing, he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week promised Civil Action Committee that he would invite a team from Amnesty International to investigate the matter.

The NLF leader said it is “very clear” that the suspect is a leader of “government-backed” Tamil militant group.

“Some police officers alleged that abductions are carried out by the Karuna faction. However, it is clear the group is linked to the government,” he told bbcsinhala.com.