Posthumous promotions for cops killed by colleague

by Norman Palihawadane

Police Headquarters sources yesterday said that the four police officers killed in the shooting incident at the Thirukkovil police station had been posthumously promoted to their next rank.

The police headquarters sources said that the IGP C.D. Wickramaratne had promoted the following officers to their next rank effective from Dec 24, 2021: Police Sergeant K. L. M. Abdul Cader – (promoted to Sub-Inspector), Police Constable A. Navinath – (promoted to Police Sergeant), Police Constable T.B.K.P. Gunasekara – (promoted to Police Sergeant) and Police Constable Driver D. M. T.H. Pushpakumara – (promoted to Police Sergeant Driver).

Four police officers attached to the Thirukkovil police station died while another three including the OIC of the station were injured and hospitalised when a fellow policeman opened fire on them on Christmas eve.

The shooter, a sergeant attached to the same police station, later turned himself in, along with two T-56 assault rifles and 19 rounds of ammunition at the Ethimale police station. He reportedly drove to his village in his private car before surrendering. Later, he was handed over to the Amparai police station.

The suspect has confessed that he was under severe strain because he had been the butt of many jokes his colleagues cracked. He was produced before Akkaraipattu Magistrate Mohamed Hamsha on Saturday and remanded until Jan 06.