Unmarried girl’s death confounds police

An unmarried young girl, Rasika Tharanganie in her early twenties was obliged to support her unemployed father after her mother eloped with her lover. Her mother took her younger brother with her to live elsewhere. This made things easy for her as she had to look after only her father. Her younger sister who was also employed continued to support her family. Last week Rasika’s body was found on the Kongahawela road in the Padukka area.

A woman rubber tapper on her way to the rubber estate in the morning around 6.30 on October 27 saw the body of a woman lying beside the road. At a mere glance she recognised the body as that of Rasika Tharanganie. She was shocked beyond belief.

It appeared as if somebody had strangled Rasika to death by tying a scarf around her neck. Horrified by the ghastly sight of the woman, the rubber tapper who was speechless hurriedly walked towards Rasika’s home which was located almost half a mile away from the scene of the crime. She described the incident to Rasika’s father. Thereafter, both of them in utter disbelief walked towards the spot where her body was lying. When they arrived at the scene a large crowd was near the body. Soon message spread in the village and people from all walks of life gathered at the scene. People were overcome with sadness and anger and hurled insults at the perpetrator of the heinous crime.

Pretty girl

Every one in the hamlet knew Rasika only too well. A pretty girl she hailed from a poor home. She mingled with all and Sundry and won the hearts and minds of those in the village. As a result she was extremely popular in the village. Her father who had worked earlier at a quarry was now unemployed. He was solely dependant on his two daughters to eke out a living.

Both girls were employed in the adjoining villages. Rasika worked in a company at Palatota manufacturing fishing gear while her younger sister Lakmali was employed in a garment factory at Watareka. They pooled their meagre earnings to keep the home fires burning.

OIC Crimes of the Padukka police station, Sub Inspector N. Tilakeratne Edirisinghe arrived at the scene within hours with a posse of policemen, to investigate the crime. They observed a scarf wrapped around the girl’s neck. “Obviously someone with a strong vengeance would have strangled the girl to death,” the OIC said.

Police soon learnt that the victim was Rasika Tharanganie of Kongahawela-Dampe Meegoda. They recorded the statements of several persons including the dead girl’s father. Later they informed the Homagama Magistrate that they suspected murder. The Magistrate visited the scene of the crime and instructed the Padukka police to conduct investigations. Meanwhile, police fingerprints experts began taking fingerprints of the deceased and examined the body for vital clues. Police dogs were also brought to pick up the scent left of the suspect.

Illicit affair

On October 26 Rasika telephoned a friend in the neighbourhood saying that she would spend the night at a friend’s home and would go to work the following day. She asked her to inform her father about it. With the turn of events, the police learnt that Rasika did not spend the night at a friend’s home but instead went with a man with whom she had an illicit affair to Matara. Police are now investigating the location where she had spent the night with the man and as to when she returned to Padukka.

In the meantime police are on the look out for the man who had strangled to death had disappeared suddenly. His whereabouts are not known.

Police said that they need to question him regarding Rasika’s death. Police are following several leads to ascertain whether she was strangled elsewhere and her body dumped in her village. They also seek to question the man whether she had been strangled to death following a heated argument. “It is even possible that a hired assassin could have strangled her to death. However, the motive of the killing is not known as yet. The truth will surface only when we question the suspects,” police said.

The autopsy was held by the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Awissawella hospital. The JMO in his report stated that Rasika had died of strangulation.

Police said DNA tests could shed light on the killing. Police are investigating a claim made by another rubber tapper that Rasika was seen walking towards her home on the day of the incident around 6.30 am.

Was she distraught that her love affair ended? Her bag containing cash and other valuables was found lying intact beside the body.

If that was the case how did her death occur? Did she commit suicide by tying her handkerchief around her neck? The Padukka police are probing as to how this unfortunate tragedy struck to Rasika.