Marriage registrar arrested along with two Maulavis for aiding and abetting Zahran

By Norman Palihawadane

The Terrorism Investigation Division has arrested a registrar of marriages in the Oluvil area for allegedly having aided and abetted Easter Sunday suicide bomber Zahran Hashim’s extremism and providing accommodation to five persons including Zahran before the Easter Sunday attack.

Police Media Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that five persons including Easter Sunday suicide bomber Zahran had clashed with a group that was against their views in the Aliyar Junction in Kattankudy in 2017.

The five individuals, including Zahran had fled the area and hidden in the house of the registrar in Oluvil following the clash, he said.

The DIG said that two of the five suspects who hid in the marriage registrar’s house were Maulvis and they were being detained and interrogated.

The other three including Zahran were suicide bombers who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks.

The registrar in custody, held at the Batticaloa Terrorism Investigation Division, is due to be brought to Colombo.