Suspect wanted for 2017 PNB shooting arrested

COLOMBO (News 1st): A suspect identified as 'Mohamed Nawaz' wanted by authorities for the 2017 shooting aimed at Police Narcotic Bureau officers, was arrested in India, Sri Lanka Police said on Thursday morning (Feb. 11). "Yesterday (Feb. 10), the Indian INTERPOL informed Sri Lanka Police that Mohamed Nawaz was arrested in India. He is being detained at the Madurai Narcotic Bureau. The Indian INTERPOL has officially confirmed the arrest of Mohamed Mahir Mohamed Nawaz," Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st. Sri Lanka Police is currently in the process of extraditing the suspect. "Accordingly, we are going to take necessary action to extradite the suspect to Sri Lanka by following various protocols and extradition procedures," the Police Spokesperson further said. The shooting took place on 9th May 2017 at Piliyandala, where a team of PNB officers led by Inspector Neomal Rangajeewa conducted a narcotic raid in the area. One police constable was shot dead and IP Neomal Rangajeewa and another constable sustained critical injuries. Three children were also injured and a 11-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital where she succumbed to the gun shot injuries, five days after being admitted. According to DIG Ajith Rohana, the Western Province-South Investigation Unit launched investigations on the murder and attempted murder case and they traced back several suspects in connection with the incident. Following further investigations, the WP Investigation Unit discovered that 'Mohamed Mahir Mohamed Nawaz'is among the suspects who collected information about police officers and was an accomplice to the murder case. The suspect had fled to India and various media reports stated that he was arrested in India a couple of weeks ago.