Four police teams have been deployed to arrest Valachchenai Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman S. Sudhakaran and several others accused of removing direction boards placed at archaeological sites by the Department of Archaeology in Batticaloa, Valachchenai, and Kiran.

The Valachchenai Pradeshiya Sabha had reportedly removed the boards claiming they were installed without the council’s permission.

The direction signs, installed by the Department of Archaeology from 3 November, were meant to guide tourists visiting archaeological sites in the Batticaloa District. However, the Pradeshiya Sabha is alleged to have removed multiple signboards located within the Valachchenai and Pattipola police areas.

The Department of Archaeology lodged a complaint with the Valachchenai Police following the incident.

Police have so far identified seven suspects connected to the removal, and one of them — a 53-year-old resident of Kiran — was arrested yesterday in the area.

According to police, seven removed signboards were later found within the premises of the Valachchenai–Koralaipattu Pradeshiya Sabha and taken into police custody.

Investigations have revealed that Chairman Sudhakaran and six other suspects have fled the area following the allegations.