Maru Gunapala meets his Waterloo

W.M Gunapala (63) lived in a rustic village called Kinnarabowa - Bokulkumbura in the Medagama area. He was a notorious criminal whose hands were tainted with blood. Having languished in jail for years for committing murder he was paroled five years ago. Despite his age he had a robust physique. People in the Bokulkumbura village feared him because of his criminal track record. No one in the village ever crossed swords with Gunapala knowing the violent nature of the man. Villagers in the Medagama area called him “Maru Gunapala.” His father too was involved in several murders in the area, a police said.

Gunapala had a title bestowed on him by the state as a R.C.

The abbreviation stands for Re-Convicted Criminal (RC), according to police records. “Had he lived for a few more years he would have clinched the title of an Island Reconvicted Criminal (IRC) for his involvement in big time crime,” police said.

According to police records Gunapala had served a jail term of 15 years for killing a retired policeman by brutally chopping him with a sword nearly twenty years ago. He was released on parole five years ago after serving a long jail term. Almost twenty years ago Gunapala hacked another man to death with a sword. He was convicted for both cases and served a concurrent jail sentence. But soon after his release from the prisons Gunapala returned to his native village and began terrorising the people once again including a Buddhist high priest who was held in high esteem by the natives of Medagama. He did not like the priest simply because he was close to the people in the village. Gunapala eked out a living by hunting although it was prohibited by law but helped him to keep the home fires burning. People in the village were aware that his family members possessed illegal firearms which they acquired surreptitiously. The guns were used for hunting purposes. They used to set up trap guns deep in the jungles to hunt game.

Gunapala had a vile temper. He used to warn people prior to committing a crime. Many at the Medagama village have been intimated in this manner. However, people did not complain to the police through fear. But things took a different turn when Gunapala walked into the home of Heenbanda a close relative of his on the night March 17, armed with a gun. He was envious of that family.

They were more prosperous than his own family and he resented that. Gunapala was in a foul mood that day. After yelling at his family members in obscene language, over a trivial issue, Gunapala held his gun against the chest of a female family member and threatened to shoot her. Alarmed by his sudden rage the other family members pleaded with him not to cause any harm to her and persuaded him to leave the house.When Gunapala left home, the family rang the police emergency number 118 and informed them of what took place in their home a short while ago. Before long the police emergency got in touch with the Medagama police and informed them to investigate the death threat complaint. But it was a busy day being the Local Government polls. Policemen were already deployed at strategic places in the Medagama village and a skeleton staff remained at the police station. The Local Government polls were in full swing when the death threat complaint was received by the Police. Nevertheless when the Medagama Police OIC, Inspector Bertie Udukubura was informed about the death threat he promptly informed policemen detailed for election duty at Bokulkumbura to investigate the complaint. There were two soldiers, an inspector and a constable on duty at Bokulkumbura village. When policemen visited Gunapala’s home and tapped at his door he did not open the door and come out of the house. Instead he threatened to kill everyone who came to arrest him. Policemen waiting for him outside the compound heard his threat. They also heard a female voice from inside the house pleading him not to step outside the home. Despite pleadings he shouted that he would cut and chop all those who came to arrest him. When the inspector briefed OIC Medagama on his mobile phone about the situation, an additional mobile patrol with Inspector Jayaweera was rushed to apprehend Gunapala.

As the evening wore on the situation became more tense. Around ten O’clock that evening OIC Medagama, Inspector Udukubura arrived with Chief Inspector Bandara and party arrived at Bokulkumbura. On the way to Gunapala’s home they met the arrived Heenbanda’s relative who complained to the police emergency number 118.

They accompanied the police party and showed Gunapala’s residence which was located on a hillock. The OIC having briefed the policemen there to surround Guamapla’s house stood near the front door. In the meantime Inspector Dissanayake forced his way into the Gunapala’s house to apprehend Gunapala. But Gunapala was nowhere to be seen.

A short while later Inspector Dissanayake came out of the house with a muzzle loading gun. Inspector Udukumbura then stepped inside the house and spoke to the inmates.

Just then a loud gun shot was heard. The shot came from the direction of the bathroom situated outside the house.

The pellets struck the flashlight that OIC Udukubura had in his hand while some struck the head and the chest portion of Inspector Dissanayake. Inspector Dissanayake with gun shot injuries grabbed OIC Udukumbura and fell besides him. Chief Inspector Bandara was then instructed to take him to the nearest hospital. Before he was despatched to hospital, another gun shot rang out in the premises injuring Inspector Jayaweera severely in the chest.

The gun shot also cut three of his fingers. As Jayaweera’s condition was critical, OIC Ukukumbura and others helped to carry him to the road below Gunapala’s house.

Just then Gunapala emerged out of the darkness suddenly brandishing a gun and threatened to wipe out the policemen present at his house. Before he could open fire at the policemen for the third time Inspector Chaminda jumped in front of Gunapala and grappled with him. Gunapala pressed the trigger once again but for some unforeseen luck the gun did not fire sparing the life of Inspector Chaminda. After grappling with him for some time Inspector Chaminda grabbed Gunapala’s gun and dealt several blows on his head that silenced him for ever. Police later found fourteen (14) cartridges around Gunapala’s waist.

Further investigations into the incident are being made under the directions of Senior DIG, Uva province Pujitha Jayasundera.