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The Police said that three persons have been arrested in relation to the incident.
The mob attack had stemmed from an ongoing case regarding a police complaint over a love affair and alleged abuse of a girl by an employee of the backhoe yard, according to the Police.
The backhoe yard situated on the main Pepiliyana-Kohuwala road was torched by the mob at around 8.00 p.m. damaging the property and the vehicles parked in the yard.
A father of one, who lived in an adjoining house also suffered head injuries when the mobsters pelted stones and damaged the windows.
According to an eye witness who was at the backhoe yard, a mob of 50 to 75 men had stormed the premises and then torched it causing a huge loss to the property.
Eyewitnesses said more than 400 people were standing outside while the mob was on the rampage.
The backhoe yard is also owned by a Muslim and the entire episode was triggered after an employee of the yard who is also a Muslim was caught having a relationship with a 15-year-old Sinhalese girl in a nearby house, Police said.
The parents of the girl had lodged a complaint with the Police alleging rape, after which the suspect was arrested and remanded three days earlier.
However, the father of the girl, a trishaw driver had allegedly incited the others over the incident including monks after which the incident had taken a racial twist.
“I was scared for my life, I just saw these people armed with poles shouting and storming the place. I ran into my room and closed my door. All I could hear was people screaming. After around 15 minutes there was silence and I walked out to see the main office up in flames,” Mr. Shanmuganathan the watcher at the yard said.
Another witness, a Buddhist who lives in the adjoining house who did not wish to be identified, said that he came out of the house upon hearing the ruckus.
“These people started pelting stones at us as well. My infant daughter walked out with me as soon as I opened the door and I bent down to cover her up when the stone struck my head,” he said while showing the large stone that was broken in two on impact.
It was after this that the mob had directed their attention towards the Fashion Bug warehouse, situated about 150 metres away.
The mob had pelted stones damaging the windows and a few of them had got into the clothes stores and damaged it.
There was heavy Police, CID and STF presence in and around the vicinity of the clothing store yesterday.
Inquires revealed that the mob had gathered at a temple situated in close proximity to both businesses.
Police spokesman S.P. Budhdika Siriwardena said the Police have deployed many team to apprehend the culprits.
“Police teams headed by DIG Anura Senanayake have been deployed to investigate the incident. The Police have been receiving information and we hope to make a breakthrough soon,” he said. (Hafeel Farisz)
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