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| Sunday, 23 May 2004 |
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Notorious underworld figure escapes to India by Jayampathy Jayasinghe Has a war broken out between two factions of underworld gangs in Colombo which has resulted in scores of people being shot or stabbed to death during the past few weeks. The surge in violence is attributed to gang warfare that broke out in Colombo due to a split of Prince Colum's gang in Grandpas area. The split had occurred as a result of a disagreement among underworld members with regard to sharing spoils. Police said that many underworld gangs thrive on rackets such as forcible ejectment of tenants and extortion rackets that rake in big money. Unfolding investigations reveal that gruesome killings of underworld members will continue for some time. The killings not only sent shock waves among the ordinary folks in these areas but had taken the police by surprise. The spree of killings started a fortnight ago when Chintaka, an underworld gang member loyal to Prince Colum was abducted and killed by some gang members who defected Prince Colum. The deceased body was found in the railway track in the Bloemendhal area. To avenge the killing of their comrade, members of the Prince Colum's gang abducted Sitthy Mohamed Cassim Akbar, a defector and killed him by slashing his throat with a sharp weapon. A scavenging woman accidentally found his body dumped in a drain at Bloemendhal road. Meanwhile Kotahena Police took into custody Price Colum's brother-in-law and two others in connection with the killing. However Prince Colum, the gang leader is currently serving a sentence at the Kalutara Prisons. He is linked to several other killings previously, Police said. Meanwhile the Director, Colombo Crime Division (CCD), SSP Sarath Lugoda said they are looking for an underworld figure named "Kudu -Lal" from Wellampitiya, wanted in connection with several killings in the Grandpass and Kotahena areas. Kudu Lal is linked to the killing of "Kudu- Bandu" a prosperous heroin dealer who was shot and killed at Thotalanga while inside his three-wheeler last January. A child who was near the three wheeler also succumbed after receiving gun shot injuries. "Kudu _Bandu" was a distributor of heroin for the Colombo and its suburbs. Police said they want to question "Kudu-Lal's" involvement in the slaying of Chintaka Amarasinghe, the most feared underworld figure at Hulftsdorp, a few months ago. Kudu Lal is believed to have escaped to the United Kingdom and is evading arrest. Meanwhile Thelbala another notorious underworld figure from Orugodawatte whom the Police are looking has escaped to India. He is wanted in connection with several crimes committed in Colombo. Another underworld leader Olcott too had gone into hiding, Police said. SSP Sarath Lugoda said that several underworld key figures have been arrested during this year. A top underworld figure from Maligawatte was arrested when his vehicle came to halt at the Maradana Traffic lights. He was the most dreaded man linked to several murders in Colombo. The suspect was arrested along with two of his relatives on their way to purchase heroin. Police recovered a loaded pistol with ammunition in his possession. "He was such a dangerous persons he could have easily shot at the policemen while they were trying to take him into custody. The three suspects have been remanded," he said. Crime in the Colombo city is dominated by several pernicious underworld gangs that make huge profits by distributing heroin and indulging in extortion rackets. Most prominent are the Olcott's gang from Magazine road Borella, Kudu-Lal's gang from Maligawatte, Guna alias Gunasekaram from Kotahana, Prince Colum's gang from Kotahena, Thelbala's gang from Orugodawatte, Fudji's gang from Kotahena, and Potta Naufar from Jampettah street who imports cigarettes illegally. Although the movements of these gangs are constantly monitored from gum shoes of the police they often have managed to slip through the cracks. At Summit-Pura Mutuwal last week a young person who had gone bird watching was strangled to death and his gold chain robbed. Three young persons were arrested in this connection, Police said. Last year the CCD arrested a nine-member gang at Piliyandala involved in several serious crimes in the south with a two foreign made pistols, four shot guns with several rounds of ammunition. A deserter from the armed services was also in the gang. |
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