Crime, rampant in suburban areas

Nugegoda seemed to be plagued with violence and serious crime judging by the number of crimes committed during the past few months. There were cases of murder and bank robberies which the police were able to solve during the past.

The murder of a veteran school teacher in broad daylight while she was at home with her children is a case in point. It is obvious that with tightening of security in Colombo, the underworld criminal gangs have shifted their operations to suburban areas like Nugegoda, Dehiwela, Mount Lavinia and Keleniya. The gangs know well that they could operate in these areas with relative ease, due to the vastness of the area.

The latest robbery was committed in Mirihana last Monday by two armed men. They robbed a man carrying cash of Rs. 5 million in his vehicle when he was on his way home at Pangiriwatte. The victim was the father of a proprietor who owned a garment factory at Katunayake.

In fact he had withdrawn money from a private bank at Nugegoda on the instructions of his son. The money was to be paid as wages to the employees at the garment factory.

After withdrawing the cash of Rs. 5 million, the man stacked the crispy bundles in an executive brief case. He then came out of the bank and boarded his vehicle which was parked near the bank. He along with his driver was on his way to his residence at Pangiriwatte.

While all this happened two men on a motor cycle had been waiting outside the bank. They had been waiting impatiently till the man emerged out of the bank with Rs. 5 million. The two men wore helmets as if to disguise themselves.

Their faces were completely covered so that nobody could recognise them. They were ruthless underworld men who were up to no good. Police suspect that the two men were service deserters wanted in connection with serious crimes in the area.

As the vehicle sped away with the cash of Rs. 5 million towards Pangiriwatte road Delkande, the two men raved up the motor cycle engine and trailed the vehicle. Having followed the vehicle for about half an hour in the midst of a heavy traffic jam they caught up with it at Pangiriwatte road at Mirihana.

The motor cyclist then suddenly cut across the path of the vehicle and prevented it from moving forward. Simultaneously the pillion rider leapt from the motor cycle and ran towards the driver.

He pulled out a pistol from his trouser packet and held it against the driver's head and demanded the cash. But the man seated besides the driver with cash did not accede to his request. He yelled at the driver to move forward. The panic stricken driver stepped on the accelerator and the vehicle moved forward. But before they could proceed further the gunman aimed his revolver from behind and shot the driver.

The bullets struck the driver and the vehicle swerved and came to a standstill. The gunman ran towards the car and fired at the man seated on the front seat clutching the brief case containing the cash.

After snatching his bag, the two underworld characters sped off on the motor cycle without leaving any clues behind. In the meantime a crowd that gathered at the scene rushed the two men to the Colombo South hospital. Later the two men were transferred to a private hospital in Colombo.

Police sources said that both men had survived the assassination attempt. SSP Crimes Nugegoda, Sumith Edirisinghe when contacted by the Sunday Observer said that six police teams have been detailed to track down the underworld men.

He said underworld men on motor cycles have committed several robberies and hold ups in the Nugegoda area during the past few months. Meanwhile police suspect that several service deserters were involved in robberies.

A fortnight ago Ariyayaratne Silva, the Municipal Councillor for Ratmalana was shot dead by two gunmen travelling on a motor cycle when he visited the Municipal District Engineers office at Athidiya that day. Police have not arrested the culprits so far.

Meanwhile IGP Victor Perera expressed grave concern at a conference held in Colombo last week with regard to senior police officers. He gave a dressing down to senior policemen and warned that punitive action would be taken against senior officers who had links with the underworld.

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