Two dead after Beruwela clash

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Two persons died and nine seriously injured following the clash of two factions in the Beruwela area.

The dispute between the two groups in the Beruwela area had been there for quite some time, the Police Media Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekera told the "Sunday Observer."

He said the clash broke out when one group set fire to a mosque around 12.30 am yesterday.

The Beruwela police rushed to the mosque and was able to douse the fire before it spread to other areas with the help of the public. A tense situation arose when the two factions attacked each other. Police however were able to bring the situation under control.

The army and the police STF have been deployed to prevent fresh clashes occurring in the area. OIC Beruwela Police Chief Inspector K. Piyatiisa is conducting further investigations into the incident.