News
Kahawatte: Fear is the key
Despite the killing of a man, believed to be the main suspect in the spate of murders in Kahawatte, a fear psychosis still grips the residents.
Ukwattage Abhaya Priyantha, 32, was found stabbed or chopped to death on December 7. According to Police, he was one of the main suspects in the 15 unresolved murders that have taken place in the area since 2008.
Priyantha had been in custody since July 18 last year. After serving 14 months in remand, he was released because there was inadequate evidence to indict him. However he was regularly summoned by detectives for questioning on the killings that made national headlines and raised doubts about police efficiency.
No one has been arrested in connection with Priyantha’s murder, which took place hours after a police search operation in the area.
The most recent crime scene in Kahawatte. Pix by Lasantha Niroshana
Commenting on Priyantha’s death, Senior Police Superintendent Vaas Gunawardane told the Sunday Times the motive for the killing was still not clear although investigations were continuing. But he said they were hopeful that the killer or killers would be arrested and two police teams which were hunting for them had recorded statements from some 30 people.
The SSP said whatever opinions the media and people could have on the Kahawatte murders, the police had taken necessary measures to bring the killers to justice.
He said more than 300 police and Special Task Force personnel have been deployed to Kahawatte and neighbouring Godakawela to ensure the safety of the residents.
According to reports, the victims were all women living in houses where there were no men and most of them were raped before or after they were killed. In some instances, the killers burned the bodies.
The Sunday Times learns that the area people heaved a sigh of relief when they heard that Priyantha had been killed. Some even celebrated his death. Posters that appeared in the Kahawatte town read, “Punishment for murderers and freedom for women”. But none would come out in the open and comment or express their feelings. They fear that powerful people with political backing – those who are related to the suspects — could still harm them.
Even businessmen and the clergy avoided the media. A leading businessman who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Priyantha and the other suspects who were in custody were responsible for many crimes in Kahawatte and Godakawela.
Asked whether he felt secure after the deployment of a big police force in the area, the businessman said many people still wanted to move out of the area but they were unable to do so because their livelihood was very much connected with the area.
A Divisional Secretariat official said he believed the first two killings were due to a personal dispute but the subsequent killings were well meticulously planned and executed, probably to mislead the investigators.
He said the people had been advised on crime prevention measures while police and other state institutes were helpful in maintaining order in the area.
The Kahawatta killings started on July 21, 2008. The first victim was 56-year-old Sellaiya Maria in Kotakethana, Opathawatta area. She was strangled to death. The same year on November 19, 52-year-old U. Ariyawathie was killed in a similar manner. More women were killed in 2010 and 2011. Early this year, 52-year-old Nayana Nilmini and her daughter, Kavindya Chathurangani, were killed in what was reported as the first double murder in the area. This was followed by two more double murders, taking the number of women killed since 2008 to 14.
The 15th victim was a 66-year-old woman. She was killed last year. Police arrested Godakawela UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha member, L. H. Dharmasiri, his brother and two other people in connection with the double murders. They are in remand custody.
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