Witness tells PCoI, 2019 April Attacks suspect reportedly fled to India

Colombo (News 1st);  It was revealed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the 2019 April 21st Attacks, a suspect wanted for the terror attacks had reportedly fled to India. A witness said Pulasthini Rajendran alias Sarah, the wife of Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hastun, who detonated the suicide bomb at St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, had fled to India by sea in September of 2019. Chief Inspector of Police Arjuna Maheenkanda made this revelation while testifying at the Presidential Commission on Tuesday (21). He is currently attached to the Investigation Division of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing into the April 21st attacks in 2019. He said on the 6th of July 2020, he received information through an informant claiming a woman, believed to be Sarah who reportedly died during the explosion at a house in Sainthamaruthu on 26th April, 2019, had somehow fled the scene and was in hiding somewhere. Chief Inspector Arjuna Maheenkanda further stated he was informed that Sarah was hiding in a village called Mankadu in the Kalawanchikudi area. Following the information received, he had left for Batticaloa on 8th July, to conduct further investigations. The Chief Inspector said "When we were in Batticaloa, we met a person who had seen a woman, who is believed to be Sarah. The person whom we met with, had seen a Pick-up parked near the road in the Mankadu area around 03 AM on a day in September 2019. He had later seen Sarah and two other men walking along a nearby sidewalk. She had then got into the rear passenger seat of the Pick-up," Testifying further, he went on to say "the person whom we met, had seen another person in the front seat of the Pick-up and he identified that person as Abbu Bakkar, the OIC of the Kalawanchikudi Police Traffic Division. Then the Pick-up accelerated towards Batticaloa" The witness also said it was revealed to some extent the woman had fled to India by a boat from Mannar. He added Sarah's Uncle (from her mother's side) and his brother had helped her flee and one of the suspects is currently in custody. He has also received information to claim the other person had gone abroad.