Horrifying family massacre in Udawalawe:

SIM card helps arrest gunman

The village of Panahaduwa-Puhulyaya in the Udawalawe area rose from its slumber following the massacre of a family on October 13. The victims of the horrifying massacre were identified as father, mother, daughter and son, who were shot dead by an unidentified gunman who broke into their home along with accomplices around 7.45 pm with the intention of stealing the wealth the family possessed.

The cold-blooded killing horrified the nation due to the propensity of the crime, it was brutal as the entire family was wiped out in a matter of minutes by a gunman who had no remorse. Following the massacre Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon instructed the CID to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

He also instructed Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundera to supervise the six police teams including the Police Special Task Force (STF) and other intelligence service officers detailed to track down the killers who escaped unscathed. The victims were M.K. Gamini (34), the father, R. Chandralatha (32), son Chaturanga (14) and daughter Sewuvandhi(8).

The father M.K. Gamini, was a prosperous businessman in Panahaduwa in the Puhulyaya area.

He owned several buses and was involved in gemming and excavating archaeological treasures which made him rich. He also duped several people by selling fake archaeological treasures. He lent money to people on interest and was involved in pawn broking activity.

Ganja trade (cannabis sativa) was another business. He was a self-made man who rose from rags to riches by indulging in various dubious businesses. Known as Lalith Gamini, to natives he became an orphan at an early stage. There were 14 children in his family.

He was later adopted by another family as his mother could not feed him. The adopted family entrusted him to look after their cattle in their garden.

Cattle

By the time he was 12 he owned 15-16 head of cattle which he sold periodically to butchers in the village. He was also involved in the Ganja trade in the Embilipitiya area.

He was branded as a Ganja dealer who amassed a lot of wealth. However, to clear his tarnished image he doled out money to needy children for their education and other expenses.

Investigations were carried out by CID, sleuths, the STF and six police teams consisting of 60 policemen were detailed for the job under the supervision of Senior DIG, Pujith Jayasundera. The police teams began questioning several people who had been released from jail in recent times.

They also kept a tab on suspicious people and service deserters involved in serious crime through surveillance to monitor their movements.

But none of the suspects was taken into custody at the initial stages. After gathering vital information police finally arrested Ajith an Army deserter and three others a week later. It became apparent that the plot to rob Lalith Gamini was hatched inside the Welikada prison by two remand prisoners named Kannah and Podiputha - the architect of the plan.

They were penniless and had no source of income to eke out a living once they were released from prison custody.

While in custody at Welikada prison they discussed the modus operandi of robbing Lalith Gamini of his wealth.

Kanna and Podiputha returned to Panahaduwa and Puhulyaya after their release. A few days later they met Ajith Bandara, an army deserter, Ruwan and Rohana to discuss the modus operandi of robbing Lalith Gamini’s home. They decided not to maim or kill anyone as the couple had two young children. Kannah and Podiputha suggested that they frighten Lalith Gamini and his family with a fake revolver to rob him of his precious gold and jewellery.

On the day of the incident Podiputha, Kannah, and Ajith, arrived in a three-wheeler and met at a location close to Sankapala Raja Maha Vihara at Puhulyaya. The three-wheeler was driven by Podiputha who was involved in a murder.

After spending several months in remand prison he returned to his native village at Puhulyaya. A short while later, Ruwan arrived on a motorcycle and was met by others. Together they discussed the modus operandi of the robbery and proceeded to a by road behind Lalith Gamini’s home. It was an escape route mapped out by them following the robbery.

A meticulously planned robbery was to be executed that night. Ruwan left on his motorcycle and returned a short while later carrying with him a loaded T-56 firearm. Ruwan is a brother of a local politician in the Panahaduwa -Puhulyaya area.

However, Ajith Bandara the Army deserter had some knowledge about the T-56 firearm, police said.

On that fateful evening, the gang members waited in ambush near Lalith Gamini’s home till he returned home. It was customary for Gamini to drop by at a tea kiosk on his way home to have a chit chat with the village folk.

Gamini returned home on his motorcycle that evening around 7.15 p.m. He opened the door and walked into the house. His daughter was watching a television program while his son was studying in the adjoining room. His wife was in the bedroom. Just then the masked gang members charged into the house while one man remained in the three-wheeler.

Ajith Bandara brandishing the T-56 weapon threatened to kill Lalith Gamini and demanded cash and gold jewellery which was in the almirah. However, Laith Gamini did not offer any resistance but kept abusing them.

The robbers searched the almirah thoroughly but could not find any gold jewellery. While the search was on the mask fell off exposing the gunman’s face. Lalith Gamini identified him instantly as Ajith Bandara, the army deserter. The gunman fearing that his identity would be exposed opened fire on Lalith Gamini killing him on the spot.

He fell dead across the floor. His wife and daughter who witnessed the gruesome killing became the next target of the gunman. He then shot dead both the mother and the daughter. While the gunman was making an exit, the son who stood at the main entrance to the house became the fourth victim.

The gunman held the T-56 weapon against his body and shot him dead. The robbers got away with only two small gold chains, police said.

The gunman while fleeing through the escape route in the trishaw accidentally dropped a SIM card of a cellular mobile phone in a shrub jungle. The SIM card was later picked by a police team.

The police finally traced Podiputha the owner of the SIM card. Following the grilling of Podiputha who was identified as the name of Ajith Bandara the main suspect. Police recovered the get away three-wheeler abandoned at Akmeemana. The four suspects arrested in connection with the robbery and the killing have been remanded.

Police are looking for one more suspect who is absconding. A senior police officer commenting on the incident said crime never pays.