Over 1,000 remanded over 09 May violence

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Police investigating the killing of Polonnaruwa District SLPP MP Amarakerthi Atukorale and his police bodyguard Sergeant Gunawardena (5565) on 09 May, have arrested a senior sales executive of a private company.

Plainclothesmen took the suspect into custody in the Nittambuwa area on Wednesday (15). The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) apprehended the 26-year-old suspect following information elicited from some of those previously arrested.

Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa yesterday told The Island that so far 32 persons had been arrested in connection with the inquiry. Attorney-at-Law Thalduwa identified the arrested young executive as a resident of Katulandawatta, Ellakkanda.

Responding to another query, SSP Thalduwa said that the suspect apprehended on Wednesday was to be produced before the Attanagalle Magistrate, yesterday.

Those arrested previously had been remanded pending further investigations, the senior police officer said, adding that among them were drivers of private vehicles, drug addicts as well as ex-military personnel. There had been several unemployed men among the remanded, the official said, revealing that the person who first attacked the MP with a club was also in custody.

Lawmaker Amarakeerthi and his police bodyguard were on their way back to Polonnaruwa after attending a meeting chaired by then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees when a mob waylaid them in the Nittambuwa town.

Police said that investigators had recovered the slain police officer’s weapon removed by one of the suspects in custody. CCTV footage of the incident helped the police track down some suspects whereas several arrests were also made on information elicited from those who had been taken in.

Police headquarters said that following attacks on anti-government protesters in Kollupitiya and Fort police areas on 09 May, there had been a spate of violence. The police have recorded a staggering 857 incidents including what investigators described as meticulously organised attacks on the residences of ruling party members of Parliament.

SSP Thalduwa said that up to 12.35 am on 16 June, 2,814 persons had been arrested in connection with incidents (both attacks and counter attacks), 1,092 of them remanded pending further investigations while others released on bail.

Lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa, whose own residence was looted and torched said that the police had largely failed to intervene, and thereby allowed organised gangs to carry out attacks on selected properties of politicians with ease.

MP Weerawansa alleged that the police had not even fired into the air to drive away the attackers. The National Freedom Front (NFF) leader emphasised the need to inquire into the failure on the part of law enforcement authorities to take preventive action.

Mobs also destroyed the then Public Security Minister Prasanna Ranatunga’s residence at Udugampola, Gampaha even though police came under his ministry.