May 28, Colombo: The body of a girl who went missing in the Atulugama area in Bandaragama yesterday (27) morning was found near a paddy field in the Atulugama area a short while ago, the police said.

The body of Fatima Aisha, a 9 year old fourth-grade student of Al Gazzaly School in Atulugama and a resident of Atulugama, Bandaragama, has been found, the police said.

The child had gone missing at around 10.15 am on the 27th after visiting a shop about 200 meters from her house to buy chicken.

The mother of the girl had lodged a missing persons’ complaint with the Bandaragama Police Station after the girl failed to return home from the meat shop.

Several police teams had commenced investigations in search of the girl following the complaint.

Police say K-9 officer ‘Druno’ of Horana Police deployed to trace the missing child directed the officers to the meat shop and didn’t proceed further.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer said that the father of the child is also being questioned at length regarding her death.

In addition to the Bandaragama Police, the Panadura Divisional Crime Branch and the Intelligence Officers are also conducting joint investigations into the disappearance and death of the girl, said SSP Samantha Wedage in charge of the Panadura Division.