Treasure hunting inside hospital; five including a doctor arrested

The Vakari Police said that five people including a temple priest and the Doctorin-charge of the Batticaloa – Vakarai Ayurvedic Hospital had been arrested.

They further said that following a tip-off received by them with regard to treasure hunting taking place inside the Ayurvedic Hospital building located in Kandaladi, Vakarai, surrounded the area encompassing the hospital in the early hours on Saturday and arrested all the five alleged suspects.

When the alleged suspects were produced before Magistrate Valaichchenai Magistrate A.C. Rizwan for causing damage to the government hospital during the treasure hunting and for indulging in the prohibited act, they were ordered to be remanded until August, 08.

The Police during their search operation discovered a large pit dug to the depth of a well inside the hospital premises with an intention to excavate treasure, believed by the suspects to have buried underneath the building.

The Police team led by Officer-in-charge of the Vakarai Police Station Sub Inspector W.K Prasanga arrested the suspects and seized the equipment along with a car used by them for carrying out treasure hunting activities.

The Police said that they were now engaged in further investigations in connection with this incident and the network of people engaged in treasure hunting in the Vakarai jungle area.