Polgolla tragedy: Driver, conductor remanded

By Senaka de Silva

The driver and the conductor of the ill-fated Polgolla bus were produced in court and remanded for neglecting their responsibility to check the bags and parcels of the passengers, Police Media Spokesman, Ranjith Gunasekara said.

Transport Minister, Dullas Alahapperuma said the ministry had earlier issued circulars providing guidelines to the bus operators on security measures.

Meanwhile, the private bus operators in several routes in Kandy area suspended the bus services to protest against taking action against the bus operators in case of an explosion in a bus.

Private Bus Operators AssociationPresident, Gemunu Wijeratne warned they would resort to an island-wide strike if the bus crew was subjected to legal action in case of an explosion.

Meanwhile, one of the men who died from the Polgolla bomb blast in Kandy was believed to have placed the bomb inside the bus on Friday morning, SSP Gunasekara said.

He said that “we are suspecting one of the victims would be the person who had placed the bomb, but it was yet to be established.”

According to the spokesman, Katugastota and Kandy police were conducting inquiries into the explosion and so far arrested three suspects.

One of them was released after recording his statement and others were detained for further questioning.

Two passengers died and 12 others injured in the bus explosion.