The saga of a criminal

by Ananda Agalakada

Four years can be a long time in one's life. For a criminal at large it may seem safe especially if he is of the view that the crime is forgotten and he could roam freely. But the police are on the alert and watchful, awaiting the slightest opportunity to nab him, following even the smallest clue.

This is how the police were able to solve a crime after four years.

It was just another day for Naveen who was used to moving around in Matara, fearlessly going about his task of peddling drugs when he received a sudden call from his partner in crime.

When Naveen met his partner two fatal gunshots brought his life to an abrupt end.

Naveen would never have expected to die that day... to be shot at point blank range.

Darshana Naveen Jayawickrama was a youth in the prime of his life. He resided in Kotuwegoda Matara. Naveen over the years gradually became addicted to heroin and later as he could not afford to buy drugs, began peddling the deadly stuff. He operated in a discreet fashion.

His best friend was Shantha who was a bus conductor and operated in a bus plying between Colombo and Matara. Shantha was popular among passengers because he had a friendly demeanour. Naveen wanted a partner in crime because he could not carry on his deadly trade all by himself. Naveen over the years convinced Shantha to be a partner in his drug peddling activities.

“Do you like to earn more money? Then join me to discreetly carry out my trade. You can transport the stuff in the bus because your bus plies from Colombo to Matara on a daily basis and you will not face any problems.”

This was Naveen trying to lure his friend Shantha into the deadly trade and Shantha was tempted with the offer and thought to himself “this is easy money.

I am not going to miss this golden opportunity,” and took the offer with both hands.

Deadly

From then, Shantha brought heroin in his bus from Colombo and Naveen delivered the deadly stuff to regular hookers who knew where to meet him to purchase the stuff. This was the beginning of the deadly deal between the two.

Both friends continued their drug trade unhindered and as sales improved, they amassed quite a bit of wealth from it.

As time went by, Naveen who was in addition a hooker became more and more addicted to the drug and refused to kick the habit.

It was in this backdrop that Shantha broke off his friendship with Naveen. Naveen did not heed Shantha's advice to stop consuming drugs.

Police in the meantime were keeping a close tab on drug couriers and peddlers.

Having received a tip off that a bus plying on the Matara - Colombo line was transporting drugs, the police were on high alert. Since Shantha was transporting drugs he was nabbed by police when his bus was checked and the deadly drug was found carefully concealed underneath the seats. Later Shantha was arrested by police while he was transporting heroin and was convicted and sent to prison.

While Shantha was languishing in prison, Naveen was enjoying himself with the spoils of the trade. He was using all the money to entertain friends and used some of it on himself. However, the information filtered down to Shantha and he was furious that Naveen had used all the money that he had so carefully saved.

Jail

While Shantha languished in jail, Naveen had spent all the money he had saved and entrusted with him. Shantha was overcome with rage and his anger took the better of him. He planned to kill his 'friend'.

Chaminda was one of Shantha's friends and was a well-known thug who resided in Thudawa. “I'll offer you 100,000 rupees if you kill Naveen,” he told Chaminda over the phone from prison. Chaminda agreed and relayed the message to Shantha using contacts he had within the prison.

Shantha was planning the next step. His brain was working fast and he was looking at various angles as to how he could be rid of Naveen once and for all. He was friends with a few underworld elements and one of them was Chaminda. He obtained his services. Shantha had contacted him and gave him the message that he should somehow 'finish off' Naveen.

He had asked his 'friends' to meet at a bakery in Aluthgama situated at a gold shop in Bentota. Shantha then spoke to somebody in the bakery from prison and asked him what kind of weapon he would use so that death would be instantaneous.

Later Shantha ordered them to go to Sugath who lived in Kamburupitiya with the weapon.

In advance Sugath was notified by Shantha how to change and fix the number plates of the van in which the trio was travelling. Sugath knew that the plan was to kill Naveen but he was against it because Naveen and he were friends.

“I will provide accommodation but I cannot get involved in the crime,” Sugath told the trio. Then Chaminda spoke to Shantha and informed him that Sugath was backing out and had said that he would not be party to the crime.

Shantha then told him to go to the Aluthgama bridge and obtain the services of two others to carry out the killing. They were the tough-looking Kaduwela Jagath and Tangall Manna. The two of them were at the bridge when Jagath reached Aluthgama from Ahangama.

The trio got into the van and drove off. The ploy was to get Naveen out of his house before the crime was committed. However, under pressure from the thugs Sugath was forced to obey orders and he agreed to show them where Naveen lived.

Disputes

In the meantime Shantha called Naveen on the phone and said “Let's forget our disputes and let us remain friends. You have done well in my absence. I do not want my money. I will send a drugs parcel through my friends. Try to sell it and keep the money safe,” he said. Naveen swallowed the bait and queried as to where he should meet them.

“No I cannot come now, I will come tomorrow morning. Where have I to meet them? Where is the place?” Naveen asked. Naveen was taken aback to receive a call from Shantha but thought that the friendship could once again be revived leaving the past behind.

It was in this backdrop that Shantha called Naveen again and asked him to come to the Buddhist statue which was in Bandarawatta between Matara and Middeniya.

He also told Naveen that he would send the parcel in a van through his friends and he expected the money after the sale. Shantha informed the trio that Naveen would come to the place and asked them to carry out the dastardly act.

When Naveen was approaching the location on his bike the trio of thugs in the van moved in for the kill. As Naveen came close one of them opened fire with a T-56 weapon. His shot was accurate and Naveen fell in a pool of blood. He died on the spot and the thugs responsible for the crime had vanished from the area.

However, after four years the Matara police apprehended those responsible for Naveen's death.