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| Sunday, 16 May 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Army Jine! brutal instincts by Jayampathy Jayasinghe The May 19 slaying of notorious underworld gangster "Army Jine" has helped the Police to finally close the chapter on the decade long hunt for a "Most Wanted Criminal" responsible for a spate of murders and other acts of brutality including rape. Jine has been terrorising the people of Weeraketiya, forcing many to flee the area, that his end proved to be as brutal as his acts of brutality is perhaps to be expected. But what made a better than average student, a son of a decent family and a soldier with a bright future take up a life of crime. The "Sunday Observer" profile the life of a killer. Malavi Kankanamage Jinasena alias Army Jine (41) of Wathumulla Weeraketiya was a ruthless criminal wanted by the Police for several killings. He was involved in some 38 murders and several rape cases in a criminal career that spanned more than a decade, the most recent being the slaying of two policemen and an Inspector of Police at Weeraketiya. No Criminal was feared more than Army Jine. Nicknamed Army Jine by his friends because he was an ex-soldier. Jine served in the Sri Lanka Army for almost 12 years before taking up a life of crime and becoming notorious as an underworld figure. He was the most feared criminal in the Southern Province because of his involvement in several killings and other atrocities. Born and bred in Weeraketiya Jine was the son of Malavi Kankanamage Dharmadasa and Diyonis Meriyat of Palantota. He hailed from a poor family of four brothers and two sisters. One of his brothers is a policeman and another sister is a nurse attached to a government hospital. Having passed the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) Examination in five subjects with two credits, Jine joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1985 as a private and was attached to the Gemunu Watch. He was later posted to the Special Services (SS) regiment where he underwent combat training and specialised in underwater combat training in Pakistan. Intensive combat and weapon training in the Army made him self-confident to cope with difficult situations in life. Although the Army had moulded him to be an ideal soldier, as fate decreed, he became the most notorious and sought after criminal. His service in the army came to an abrupt halt in 1999 when he deserted the camp. Jine was a close buddy of Chandi Malli, the Southern Provincial Council Minister who was brutally gun downed opposite the Metropolitan branch of the Bank of Ceylon at York Street in Fort last year. Chandi Mali was returning to his car that day after reporting to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) when he was shot. Army Jine was the gunman who opened fire and killed Ratnaweera the noted leader of the Sooriyawewa gang while the latter was being escorted to Tangalle prisons. In that shooting a police constable was killed and a prison guard, sustained serious injuries. Jine had also worked closely with Wambatu gang that operated in the Embilipitiya area. Since leaving the Army in 1999, he worked for a well-known gem merchant in Kahawatte as a security officer and was later employed by an Army captain. But security work did not bring him the cash he needed and soon embarked on a life of crime. Even whilst serving in the Army, he had been involved in several crimes, Police said. After returning to his native home at Weeraketiya Jine took to crime in a big way. He forcibly acquired the properties of small land owners in Palanthota area by threatening to shoot them. Many land owners fled the area through fear. They were too frightened to complain to the police knowing the nature of the man. He had also allegedly raped several young girls in the area and many families left their homes in Palanthota through fear. Army Jine shot and killed a man named Indika in Palanthota area for tipping off the Police about the arsenal of bombs he had in his possession. He also shot and killed Ratnaweera's brother at a Petrol shed in Ambilitiya this year. He lived most of the time in jungles trying to escape the Police. On April 26 this year OIC Weeraketiya Police Inspector M.L. Mahagedera received a tip that Army Jine was seen at his residence at Palanthota. Sub Inspector Sanjeewa Hettiarachchi with a few policemen rushed to his house to arrest him. On seeing Army Jine coming out of the house, the policemen challenged him and Jine responded by firing at them with his T-56 rifle. Sub Inspector Hettiarachchi was hit on the chest while other policemen continued to fire at Army Jine. With several injuries, Jine managed to flee the scene and got himself admitted to the Matara hospital. Meanwhile Sub Inspector Hettiarachchi succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to the Matara hospital. He was a fearless officer who had served the department for more than a decade. OIC Weeraketiya after learning of Army Jine being admitted to the Matara hospital informed the Matara Police to immediately arrest the most wanted man. After his arrest several Police guards and Prison guards were placed at his bedside to protect him. Army Jine received treatment at the Matara Hospital for about a week. However the word got around soon and a man named K.K. Wijesena from Weeraketiya went to see Army Jine last Friday at the Matara hospital. He had a Galkatas hidden in his pocket. The time was around 6.00. p.m. Wijesena had an axe to grind with Army Jine as he had allegedly killed two of his brothers- in -law some time back. Wijesena went to the ward where Jine was warded pulled out his Galkatas and shot at him at point blank range. The shots pierced his skull killing Army Jine on the spot. Wijesena fled the scene and the Police gave chase and arrested him at Uyanwatte adjoining the hospital, ending the saga of Army Jine. |
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