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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Editorial
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Sivaram killing : CCD on verge of breakthrough Crime Sunday by Jaympathy Jayasinghe When the abduction and killing of journalist Dharmeretnam Sivaram was reported on April 28 it was natural for IGP Chandra Fernando to summon the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) and entrust the case to its Director, Senior Supdt. of Police Sarath Lugoda, to unravel the mysterious murder. The CCD has been credited in the past few months for solving some of the most difficult cases like the. Sarath Ambepitiya murder, Namal Gunewardena murder, Chandi Malli murder, Kohuwela ransom case, and many more serious cases reported in the recent past. Of course, several organisations were quick to pinpoint the blame on the Directorate of the Military Intelligence for their alleged conspiracy in the abduction and murder. Some even blamed the CCD for not interrogating the military intelligence although there wern't an iota of evidence against them. The Director CCD, SSP Sarath Lugoda had previously said that they do not question anyone on hearsay unless there was substantial evidence to the contrary to warrant an investigation. He denied the military intelligence involvement in the murder. Meanwhile the CCD had recorded over 125 statements of witnesses during the last two months. It was painstaking detective work that ultimately helped the CCD to crack open the case which dragged for nearly two months. Sarath Lugoda said that modern technology had helped them to track the suspects from a house at Maharagama. The suspect, a senior PLOTE cadre had been staying at a rented house at Maharagama with his wife and children. He was a driver employed by the PLOTE organisation. Another PLOTE cadre had also been provided accommodation there. The Police have taken charge of the jeep which believed to have been used in the abduction. The vehicle was found at the suspect's house. They have also found the chip of the mobile phone that belonged to Sivaram. But Sivaram's mobile phone has not been recovered so far. It was learnt that the police are frantically searching for the mobile phone. The suspected PLOTE cadre had joined the PLOTE organisation in 1980 and spent five and a half years in prison for his failed attempt to overthrow the Maldivian government in 1983. The PLOTE cadre was produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate on Tuesday and was remanded till investigations are completed. Another PLOTE cadre brought before Court was released due to lack of evidence. Police took no chances while bringing the suspect to Court as there was a threat on this life. They were brought under heavy security. It is interesting to note that the abduction of Sivaram, took place opposite a liquor restaurant almost opposite the Bambalapitiya police station almost two months ago. On that fateful evening Sivaram with three of his friends were enjoying a drink at the restaurant. The abduction took place when Sivaram and his colleagues stepped out of the restaurant around 10. p.m. They were all in a state of intoxication after consuming liquor. Two of his colleagues including a trade unionist and a NGO personnel boarded a trishaw and went in the direction of Kollupitiyta, while the third, a journalist had walked along with Sivaram towards the bus halt. It was at this stage that Sivaram was bundled into a jeep by four persons
who had been waiting in ambush near the bus halt. The victim was believed to
have been shot with a 9.mm. pistol. CCD officers are now probing whether the
pistol in question was issued to the armed services to the police or whether
it was issued to a politician. |
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