Killer gang terrorises witnesses

by Kapila Somaratne and Jayampathy Jayasinghe

A killer gang operating in the Panadura area who terrorised key witnesses involved in murder cases pending before Courts, is being investigated by the Panadura police. Several key witnesses in murder cases have been shot dead recently by unidentified gunmen, police said.

Two months ago a bus driver, Sugath Silva was shot dead at Panadura by an unidentified gunman. Police said he had testified before the Panadura Magistrate's Court in a murder case where a notorious underworld figure, Sugath Silva was shot dead.

An unidentified gunman also shot dead a three-wheeler driver, Buddikka Sampath while he was standing opposite a boutique at Pinwatte last week. He too had testified in a case where a student was killed at Kalutara last year.

Meanwhile, in another case a suspect involved in the bomb throwing case at Panadura where a woman (37) and her daughter (11) died when a group of persons flung bombs at their home and fled in a three wheeler last September was arrested when he was at the Panadura Magistrate's Court last week. The arrest was made by a police constable.

Police have identified the suspect as Janthuwa, a notorious criminal who had been absconding for several months.

The victims were D. A. Karunawathie and her daughter Dushanthi Wasala (11), both tsunami victims who had taken refuge at a house at Solomon Road, Panadura.

The other suspects involved in the case are already in remand custody, police said.