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| Sunday, 7 May 2006 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Love's
labour's lost
Sunday crime by Jayampathy Jayasinghe A significant number of suicides due to love affairs was reported during the past few months. Among them were two tragic suicide cases reported from Anuradhapura and Dehiathakandiya which were given publicity in the local newspapers. Two disgruntled young men frustrated over their inability to win over their loved ones had committed suicide. The incidents occurred in two different areas. One man killed himself and seriously injured his loved one by blasting a hand grenade at Hinguragoda. The other case was where a person set himself on fire at Dehiathakandiya, last week. The suicide reported from Hinguragoda involved a Special Task Force (STF) Police Constable (30) who had an illicit love affair with a married woman from the area. It was love at first sight. She was an extremely pretty woman and the policeman was infatuated over her. Although not legally separated from her husband she lived with her parents at Gamudawa Circular Road at Hinuraggoda. Her mother had gone to the Middle East in search of greener pastures. She had differences with her husband owing to his involvement with other women. In fact she had met the STF Constable while she was in Anuradhapura for some business. It was a chance meeting that ultimately blossomed into a love affair. He loved her from the very depth of his heart and wanted to marry her. She was childless. He proposed to her on many occasions but the woman was a bit sceptical. She was not legally separated from her husband. She explained to him that she cannot marry another person without being granted a divorce from courts. But the STF Constable wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, and kept on insisting that she marries him. The STF constable was a native of Anuradhapura who was attached to the STF camp in the Batticoloa area. She often accompanied him to his native village at Anuradhapura whenever he came on leave. According to the Hingurakgoda Police the tragic incident happened last week while the woman was at home at Hingurakgoda. The STF Constable went right into her room and grabbed her by her body. He then yelled at her and threatened to blow up if she does not marry him. At this stage a struggle ensued between them. By this time the Constable had removed the striker pin of the grenade which he held in his hand. In the course of the struggle to free herself, she struck the grenade with her hand which fell on her bed. She pushed the Constable aside who then fell on the bed. Within seconds the hand grenade exploded injuring the STF Constable seriously. The woman too sustained grievous injuries and was later admitted to hospital. The Constable later succumbed to his injuries at the Medirigiriya hospital. A similar incident took place last year at the Police Garage at Narahenpita when a Police Constable detonated a hand grenade inside a room where his girl friend was employed after a heated argument. Both of them died in the explosion. The other tragic suicide was reported from Dehiathakandiya last week where a disgruntled male teacher who had an affair with a woman teacher in the same area set himself on fire after dousing himself with petrol. According to Dehiathakandiya police the burnt body of the deceased was found lying near the lavatory outside his quarters at Lihiniyagama. Police found two empty bottles and a box of matches alongside his body. The incident took place just outside his official quarters at Lihiniyagala. Both the deceased and the woman teacher had been serving at a school at Uthalapura. According to the father of the woman teacher their marriage was to be registered shortly. The deceased, a native from Beliatta had wanted to get back to their native village after the marriage. However the woman teacher had shown reluctance to this proposal. According to the police the motive for committing suicide was due to his frustration caused by his beloved one not willing to accompany him to his native village. |
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