Two children have been arrested in connection to the murder of a watchman at a children’s orphanage in Pepiliyana, it was reported.
According to the Police, two boys aged 16 and 17 years have been arrested in connection to the murder that had been reported at the orphanage.
The children’s orphanage in Pepiliyana currently houses 12 children who had been sent under court orders. The orphanage is run by a manager, a head warden for administrative work, and a watchman.
As the watchman had not reported to work yesterday, a search was conducted by the management and children at the premises, with his body being found by a child.
The Police had also been informed that a three-wheeler parked in front of a house near the children’s orphanage was stolen early that morning, and the person behind it was seen running into the orphanage.
Inquiries by the Police from the orphanage administration in this regard had led to the finding of the watchman’s body close to a well at the premises.
Police investigations reveal that the 17-year-old boy, arrested on suspicion, had jumped out of his room via the window and had murdered the watchman, while it is also suspected that an outsider may have been involved.
Further investigations found that the two suspect children had planned to use the stolen three-wheeler to dispose of the watchman’s body at Bellanvila Lake. However, as the owner of the three-wheeler had spotted them, they had left the watchman’s body by the well and returned to their rooms.
The Boralesgamuwa Police is conducting investigations to find if any other child at the orphanage had been involved in the murder. The deceased watchman is an 80-year-old father of two. (Newswire)