Two illegal sand miners who jumped into a river to escape from a group of Navy officers who raided the place have gone missing.
A tense situation had arisen between the Naval officers and the villagers after a group of Navy officers attempted to arrest the suspects who were involved in illegal sand mining near the Saawuru Bridge in the Kinniya Police division early yesterday morning.
According to police, two of the suspects had jumped into a river and tried to escape by swimming across the river. Both had disappeared into the water without a trace.
A tense situation had occurred between the residents of the area and the Naval officers related thereafter.
The Special Task Force and Kinniya Police had to intervene to bring the situation under control.