|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 18 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
CCD traps notorious gang Crime Sunday by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE The most feared criminal in Colombo who were responsible for several murders and drug smuggling activities were apprehended last week by a team of undercover detectives led by a Sub-Inspector from the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) after a car chase near Maradana junction. The breakthrough came in when detectives were tipped off by an informant, that the gang was on their way to purchase drugs from another drug dealer. Soon after receiving this bit of information the detectives decided to stage an ambush at a cross road closer to Maligawatte-Maradana road for the luxury Huyndai vehicle. The vehicle had belonged to the ring leader of the Maligawatte gang who had become a drug addict. He needed Rs. 3,000 for a day for his upkeep. The man was previously a top class football player for a popular club in Colombo, police said. Whilst waiting for nearly one hour or so they spotted an identical vehicle speeding along towards the Maradana intersection. The policemen lost no time in chasing the vehicle, driven at a break-neck speed. However due to congestion of traffic both vehicles came to a abrupt halt at Maradana traffic lights. Instantaneously the SI and his officers leapt out of the vehicle, ran forward and surrounded the Huyndai. There were three men inside the vehicle. The detectives then pulled out their revolvers and ordered them to surrender. Quite surprisingly they meekly surrendered without turning violent much to the astonishment of the policemen. The three men were bodily searched and a .380 revolver and cash Rs. 45,000 was found in the possession of the ring leader. They were then bundled into the police vehicle and escorted to the CCD headquarters for further questioning. After intense interrogation, the ring leader, allegedly the most dangerous criminal in Colombo had admitted that he had not resisted arrest. According to police the gang leader and his men are linked to several unsolved murders and drug smuggling activities. Police have already filed plaints in courts regarding these murders and two warrants issued by the High Courts and two issued by the Magistrate Courts for his arrest. Director Colombo Crime Division (CCD) SSP, Sarath Lugoda said they are probing as to how the underworld figure came to possess a .380 revolver and several rounds of ammunition. The revolver in question was given to him by a friend of his, police said. The powerful underworld figure had been operating with impunity for quite some time because people in the area feared him. The area people became his informants and often tipped him whenever a police team went to arrest him at his hide-outs. The underworld figure became powerful after the demise of Kudoo-Noor, the one time notorious drug dealer who was killed at Slave Island a few years ago. According to Police, the underworld figure is also responsible for the murder of his wife's paramour who ran away with his wife to Bandarawela about six months ago. He proceeded all the way to Banadarawela and brought both his wife and her paramour to Colombo and latter was subsequently killed. However he had not caused any harm to his wife. The man is also said to be involved in settling land cases and disputes among wealthy businessmen for a fee. His income for a month is said to be around Rs. 300,000. The police have launched an investigation into a triple murder committed by his gang sometime ago. The other two persons who accompanied the gangster was his brother and a brother-in-law, police said |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
