Attempt to sexually molest young mother misfires! ... so grabs baby on lap and drowns in water barrel!

Attempt to sexually molest young mother misfires! ... so grabs baby on lap and drowns in water barrel!

An attempt by 2 persons who tried to abuse a 19 year old young mother in Menikpuragama has failed and being enraged they had grabbed the baby daughter from her lap and the tragic incident is reported of having dumped the baby into a water barrel in the house.

It is reported that of the 2 assailants who barged into the house one of them had grabbed the baby whom the 19 year old mother was carrying while the other had tried to

sexually molest her. At that moment she has freed herself from his grips and after grappling with him had spilled the story to the neighbours and after returning home in their company had searched around when to their surprise the body of the baby was found dead inside a water barrel in the garden, police say.

At the moment the incident has taken place the woman's husband had gone to the vihara in the village for some matter. The 2 assailants responsible for this crime had fled in a three-wheeler, information was received. Jayani Sandarekha, the baby's mother is a resident of Panadura and had come to Katharagama about 15 months ago.

Wijesooriya Aarachchige Don Jayani Sandarekha (19) who became a prey to this crime had this to say in the presence of police officers: "My husband earns his living by labour-work. It's our only child who has been killed. Husband has made it a daily habit of visiting the village temple in the evenings. Even at the time of this incident he had gone to the village temple. 2 people came home around 6.50 in the evening. Our uncle sells fish. They asked where uncle was. He wasn't at home at that moment. I asked why they were looking for him. They then said that they bought some fish from him that morning on credit and that they came to pay that money. As uncle was not there they then went away. When I was carrying the small one these same 2 persons returned at about 7 in the night and entered the house.

One person grabbed the child in my arms when I shouted and the other fellow got hold of me and tried to abuse me. I struggled with him and somehow managed to break away from him and rush out from the back door. Just then I heard the sound of a three-wheeler going away speedily. When I shouted out about this incident those in the vicinity came running. The small one was not to be seen. When everyone got together and started searching, my small one was found inside a water barrel in the garden. When the baby was taken out ... even by that time the girl had died. If I see these two did this crime, I'd be able to identify them".

The baby's body has been sent to Debarawewa Base Hospital for the post mortem. Police say that the police dog Pabilo of Tangalla Police Headquarters too was brought yesterday to the location of the crime and investigations were conducted to retrieve some clue regarding the criminals. Further investigations are underway regarding the crime.