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Alleged underworld leader ‘Army Sampath’ nabbed by STF
Alleged underworld leader ‘Army Sampath’ was arrested by the Police Special Task Force (STF) in Slave Island last morning. The suspect, known to law enforcement officials as a key figure in Colombo’s underworld, was taken into custody after a prolonged investigation.
STF Commandant, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Ranjith Perera said the suspect was taken into custody along with his wife and an associate, when they arrived in Slave Island in a vehicle, by a special operations team formed to track down leading underworld criminals, following a spate of violent incidents earlier this year, linked to the underworld.
A subsequent search of the suspect’s house in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, also led to the detection of a Browning pistol, DIG Perera further revealed.
SDIG Perera described the suspect as a dangerous man wanted in connection with multiple shooting incidents. He had allegedly masterminded the attack on a prison bus in Dematagoda in March, that targeted rival underworld figure ‘Dematagoda Chaminda.’ He is also connected to the shooting incident at Bloemendal in August last year, where two persons, including a woman died after gunmen opened fire on a procession comprising supporters of Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.
The SDIG also revealed that the IGP has tasked the STF with tracking known underworld figures.