Police continuing probe on excise shootings

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

Police sleuths are wondering whether the shots fired at the houses of the Excise Commissioner General Wasantha Hapuarachchi and OIC Bureau of Special Operations Rosmand Fernando were over a personal vendetta.

Two separate investigations conducted by the Negombo and Mirihana Police Divisions under the instructions of the Deputy Inspector Generals in charge of the Western Province South and the North were handed over to the Colombo Crimes Division(CCD) yesterday. A special team of the CCD which commenced investigations have visited the two crime scenes yesterday and obtained a detailed report sources said.

Detectives suspect whether a notorious underworld drug kingpin and his supporters are responsible for the shootings at the two houses in Pamunugama and Rukmalgama last week. Police are also considering facilitating special protection for both officers, whereas police night patrol teams already operate in the respective areas. This was the second time shots were fired at Excise Inspector Rosmand Fernando's residence within a couple of weeks.