EIGHT ARRESTED OVER CHURCH VANDALISM IN KAYTS

Eight suspects, including National People's Power (NPP) organiser for Kayts, were arrested yesterday (26), for allegedly damaging a statue of the Virgin Mary at a church in the Kayts area of Jaffna.

The arrests followed a complaint filed by the church's priest.

The complaint stated that a group of individuals had damaged a statue of the Virgin Mary, valued at approximately Rs. 5 million.

Our correspondent reported that a large group of people held a drinking party near the church yesterday evening.

When church priests kindly asked them to leave due to their shouting and indecent behaviour, they reportedly clashed with the priests.

Later that night, they returned and damaged the statue, which had been imported from India, and caused damage to other church property.

The arrested suspects have reportedly pleaded guilty and requested their release from the police.

However, Kayts Police proceeded to present all eight arrested suspects to the Kayts Magistrate's Court.