Love, lust or just a crush?
 

Sunday Crime by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

The ghastly double murder that took place at Ulukulama in the Chettikulam police area last Monday was beyond the comprehension of the ordinary village folk there. It not only shattered the tranquillity of the village but the people were horrified to learn that the perpetrator of the heinous crime was none other than a policeman. It is unbelievable that a Policeman should go berserk and kill another policeman, and a woman Home Guard attached to the Chettikulam police station.

But how did the terrible murder happen? Was it due to infatuation, lust or due to true love? Whatever the reasons may be, there was no justification whatsoever for killing a policeman and a Home Guard without any provocation. The type of killing reflects the socio upheavals in our society today. During the past few months several such killings were reported in the media.

The incident happened last Monday around 8.p.m. while the Woman Home Guard, Kusuma Ekanayake (38) was at her home at Ulukkulama with her paramour Chaminda Karunaratne,(28) a Police Constable attached to the Chettikulam police station. Kusuma Ekanayake was a married woman with an eleven year old child, but she had separated from her husband and was now living alone at her home in Ulukkulama.

However she had not legally separated from her husband. Kusuma had met Chaminda whilst on duty at the Chettikulam Police check point. Chaminda was a bachelor, a native of Horawapathana in the Anuradhapura district. The moment she saw him she was drawn to him like a moth being drawn to a flame. Soon their casual affair blossomed into a full fledged love affair and Chaminda started visiting her home on a regular basis. According to the Chettikulam Police they had started the affair only six months ago.

Passion

However, it was revealed that Home Guard Kusuma Ekanayake perviously has had a passionate fling with another Police Constable named Jayatunga. She had met him too whilst serving at the Chettikulam police station and at the Ulukkulama check point some time back. Constable Jayatunga despite having a legal spouse had cultivated an extra marital affair with Home Guard Kusuma Ekanayake.

However, when his legal spouse came to know about the affair, there was constant quarrels at home. They quarrelled over flimsy petty issues which led to bigger issues. The Constable often tortured his wife and beat her on many occasions. She had made several complaints of assaults against him at the police station. On one occasion he gave her grievous pain by breaking her hand.

The Police filed a case against Jayatunga in courts, and he was later convicted. Subsequently, Police Constable Jayatunga, a native of Meegahawatte was interdicted in 2004. His wife resided in the Kandy area. Whilst under interdiction he had lived in a rented room in Chettikulam area. On several occasions he had visited Kusuma Ekanayake and had lived with her.

However, to his dismay he found that Kusuma's attitude towards him was fast changing. She did not pay him the kind of attention he was used to, and did not shower him with complimentary remarks. Of course, this made him suspicious about her. His instincts told him that she was involved with another man. On the day of the incident Constable Chaminda had visited Kusuma's residence and enjoyed watching a TV program.

Meanwhile under the cover of darkness Jayatunga tip toed stealthily into Kusuma's compound and listened to the animated conversation between Kusuma and Chaminda. He was furious that Chaminda was in the house without his knowledge. Jayatunga in rage tried to enter the house thorough the front door but the door was closed. He then banged several times as if to break open the door but was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile Constable Chaminda realising the threat against him and fearing bodily harm tried to escape thorough the kitchen door. But he was confronted by Jayatunga who was armed with a knife. Without hesitation he then plunged the knife into the chest of Chaminda several times. Chaminda wounded badly, ran towards the front door with the idea of escaping but Jayatunga chased him and caught him again. Jayatunga stabbed him several times till he collapsed on the floor.

Surrender

He then turned his rage on Kusuma who was in a state of shock seated on her bed, sobbing incessantly after witnessing a gruesome killing. He then grabbed her body and stabbed several times on her chest till she collapsed.

Thereafter the suspect Constable threw his knife aside and went towards the Ulukulama Police check point where he surrendered to the policemen on duty there. Subsequently he was arrested by the OIC Chettikulama, Inspector Siriwardenana Kumara Gamage. When Inspector Kumaragamage visited Kusuma's house he found Constable Chaminda and Kusuma lying on pools of blood. They were later rushed to the Vavunia hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Suspect Constable Jayatunga was arrested by Inspector Kumara Gamage and was produced before the Vavunia Magistrate who remanded him. The bodies of the victims were later handed over to the relatives. Further inquiries are being conducted by OIC Chettikulam Police Inspector Kumara Gamage.