Two arrested over stealing GI pipes near Speaker’s residence

Officers of the Southern District Crime Division of the Western Province, who conducted investigations regarding the theft of a stock of pipes and iron clips, have arrested two drug addicts involved in the theft.

Thieves had removed the iron pipes from the barrier set up by the Army in front of the Speaker’s official residence to protect Parliament from protesters coming towards the Parliament. The value of stolen GI pipes is Rs. 2.8 million.

During protests and demonstrations, the army and the police have been using this barrier for a year. The police say that the pipes have been taken one by one by the drug addicts since last May.

According to a complaint made by the Army, two suspects were arrested and brought to the Welikada Police Station, the Western Province South District Crime Division said. Sources say that the thieves have stolen these iron pipes during the day as well as at night while no one has noticed it. Some say that even the Police had seen the thieves carrying the iron pipes.

These two suspects have told the Police that they stole only 44 GI pipes.

Twenty-eight of the stolen pipes were found after being sold to various individuals and scrap metal shops. The police said that the two arrested suspects are residents of the Maligawa area in Athulkotte and they are aged 50 and 35 years.