Police trying to trace man who stole T-56 weapon from Panagoda Army Camp
The person who stole a T-56 firearm from a guard room of the Panagoda Army Camp had tried to steal a T-56 weapon from another guard room of the same camp earlier, investigations have revealed. This unsuccessful attempt had taken place one hour before he stole the weapon.
While identifying himself as a superior officer to the soldier who was on guard had asked him to vacate his post and go ahead to join a parade.
However, the soldier had not obeyed this order and had called another officer to inquire whether there was such a parade.
“After getting an answer from the officer that there was no such parade, he had tried to locate the person who had spoken to him but he had left the place by that time,” investigations have revealed.
The Police suspect that the suspect previously may have worked in the Army.
The suspect, who was in civil dress, had introduced himself to the soldier in the guard room as an Army officer. He had sent the soldier to a nearby shop with Rs.200 to buy him a betel quid and a cigarette. However, the suspect had gone when the soldier returned and the T56 gun and the four magazines were also missing.
The Panagoda Camp lodged a complaint with the Homagama Police. One magazine with 30 bullets was found near a culvert. Police had located the suspect with the help of CCTV footage in a shop. The Police are trying to trace him using CCTV recordings.