Bouncer meets deadly end

by Ananda Agalakada

He was a young man in the prime of his life. He was well built and good looking. The twenty-one-year-old Samith Harindu CoKooray was an only son, much loved by his parents. He was known as Ryan to his friends and lived in Buthgamuwa Road Rajagiriya with his parents and four sisters. Ryan was an obedient child ever willing to help those around. He had a string of friends who enjoyed his company.

Ryan did not show much interest in his schoolwork. He played the fool and was not keen to study and gave up school at a young age. Although Samith was admitted to Rajagiriya Hewavitharana School he could not proceed beyond grade eight.

His lack of interest in school work compelled his parents to take him out of school. However, Ryan like any other youth of his age had many expectations and after he left school he tried his hand at several jobs. Though he did not complete his school career he had certain expectations and wanted to fulfil his aims.

Ryan did a number of odd jobs but he was not satisfied with any of them. Then he found a job where he was comfortable. He got a job as a labour supervisor at the Kalubowila hospital. He worked there for a while but he did not succeed but continued being employed at the hospital for a few more months. During this time he developed an interest in music and as time went by he became addicted to it.

He was so absorbed in his new found interest that he soon left his job as a labour supervisor and wanted to pursue a career in music. He dreamed of becoming a singer and began to perform at musical shows. He thought that he had at last found what he had wanted in life. Moving with the chic crowd he developed a love for fashionable clothes. He was well clad with sartorial elegance. Ryan thought his attire would help him to become popular musician.

Ryan was naturally handsome and he later got several tattoos done on his body and also wore an earring to follow the trend. He saw many musicians attired in this fashion ad thought to himself that this was the 'in' thing.

However, this euphoria was short- lived as Ryan's meagre earnings as a fledgling musician was not enough to keep the home fires burning. Once again he started looking for jobs and ended up securing a job as a bouncer at a night club in Athurugiriya.

This he purely got due to his strong physique. He did not much like the job because he did not get the job satisfaction he was looking for but he was paid a good salary. Thus he decided to continue working at the nightclub because he was earning the kind of money he wanted for himself.

He got used to working overtime. As he was paid well for working beyond the normal hours. Almost everyday he had problems with some of the customers who turned up at the nightclub. Some of those who patronised the club made life difficult for the people who worked there.

It was Ryan's duty as well as the other bouncers to control the roughy, toughy crowd that patronised the nightclub . This they did with dedication as their job depended on it. Thus Ryan was used to handling thugs, drunkards and other similar characters who caused trouble after a few tots when they came to the nightclub.

On one fateful day two youth came to the nightclub after midnight and demanded liquor. The nightclub usually closed after midnight and employees would not engage in any transaction with outsiders after the nightclub was closed.After being refused the liquor, the two youth had started an argument with the employees. The argument got out of hand and led to a brawl and Ryan and the other bouncers had to intervene to prevent any further damage.

They had physically thrown the troublemakers out of the nightclub after an exchange of a few blows.

However, the two youth did not leave without a verbal barrage and threatened the bouncers that they will soon come to settle scores.

The officials of the nightclub informed the police in Athurugiriya about the incident and the police had promptly taken action to deploy a few of their personnel in the club. However, nothing happened on the following day which prompted the police to relax security.

On the next day Ryan had left his residence in the afternoon as usual to go to work. He was there for several hours and nothing untoward had happened. Later Ryan went to a nearby shop to buy a bottle of soft drink and also to buy a prepaid card for his mobile phone.

While having the soft drink he suddenly saw a black coloured car, some motor bikes and trishaws parked near the club.

He later saw several young people who looked like ruffians alighting from the vehicles and almost all of them were armed with either poles, swords or knives. He looked towards the road with trepidation and immediately came to the conclusion that these were supporters of the two youth, the bouncers had assaulted the other day.

Ryan knew that they had come to settle scores after the other night's brawl. So he decided to take another route to reach the confines of the club. However, he could not move far away because the people who had come in the vehicles noticed him. They pursued Ryan and he was cornered. Ryan had no way of escape.

He was assaulted mercilessly with swords, knives and poles. Even with the beatings he ran towards the club and crossed the gate. However, within reach of the main door he fell down in a pool of blood. The men who assaulted Ryan then fled the scene after Ryan fell. The workers inside the club who sensed that something was going on rushed outside but it was too late for Ryan who was critically injured. He was taken to hospital but succumbed to injuries. Police initiated investigations and have arrested about 10 youth who allegedly assaulted Ryan. However, a precious life has been snuffed out and Ryan's parents have lost their only son.