Eagle died after being electrocuted ...
because there was a serpent inside its belly ... we let it go
- arrested suspects say
Habaraduwa Police in Galle was able to take into custody two persons on suspicion regarding an
incident where a rare bird, an eagle was killed and was purposely slaughtered, which incident was published as a photograph across the social media. The police in fact was curious in finding out who the onlookers were who were apparently entertained over the incident where an eagle was skinned for probable reasons of consumption were so displayed through a photograph published across the internet. On a tip off received from the public, the police raided the place concerned.The police say that the eagle had been killed in the Kadolana Reserve close to Kaduruwa Bambigala Bridgecovering Habaraduwa Police area. On investigations conducted last morning (10) at the location where the eagle was killed, the eagle's beak, feathers, parts of its body and the knife used in the killing were found. It was revealed that the two suspects taken into custody in this connection were residents from Kaduruwa area. There are four other persons connected to this incident; however they had fled the area. Habaraduwa Police are conducting investigations to get at them. The police were able to locate the bike on which they had come.
On the occasion when two suspects taken into custody were being taken to the said place yesterday (10) where the eagle was killed, what they said was that when the eagle had died after being electrocuted they had found the bird in Kadolana Reserve. They further had said that they had skinned it; but because they found a serpent inside the stomach of the bird, they had dropped ideas of consuming its flesh and had released it to Bambagala Lake. However what the police say is the suspects had killed the bird, according to investigations carried out.
Of the two persons arrested, one is a driver while the other is a labourer. Since the eagle is a rare type of bird of a protective nature, the police say that skinning such a bird is the work of people of the cave era. The police also mentions that action would be taken against them under the offence of killing a bird of protection and for purposes of consumption. The two suspects so arrested were produced before Galle Courts yesterday (10) and Additional Magistrate of Galle, Mr. Kesara Samaradiwakara ordered that they be remanded till 24th of this month.
