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Tit-for-tat killings over drug turf rivalry in Mattakkuliya
View(s):By Damith Wickremasekara
A six-year-old rivalry over narcotics distribution between two gangs, erupted again in Mattakkuliya last Sunday, with the murder of four more persons, police investigations have revealed. Nuwan Sanjeewa, 30, alias Chuti Ukku, one of the victims in Sunday’s shooting was believed to be one of those responsible for leading a gang attack on a police post in the area in 2010, and removing a firearm.
He gained popularity within the gang after the attack, and started increasing his gang. His immediate rival was Prasad Ruwan, 26, alias Roshan, who trafficked in narcotics, after inheriting the business from his father. “The two groups were operating within a small area and therefore, their rivalry inevitably intensified. In 2014, Chuti Ukku attacked Roshan’s father with swords, killing him on the roadside and injuring Roshan himself,” said Director- Colombo Crime Division (CCD), Superintendent of Police (SP) Nishatha Zoysa.
Scene of the shooting
“On the following day, an unidentified person turned up at Chuti Ukku’s residence and shot dead his mother. “Though a majority of the two gangs’ members had been in and out of jail, most of them had come out in the past few months,” the SP explained. Two weeks prior to the incident, Chuti Ukku had arrived outside the residence of Roshan in a vehicle, abused him and left, prompting Roshan to plan Chuti Ukku’s murder, investigations revealed.
Roshan and his gang closely followed Chuti Ukku and his gang who were visiting a nearby playground to witness an Elle tournament. “The ground was visible from Roshan’s residence and hence, were able to monitor their movements. The tournament was over around 6 pm and Chuti Ukku and his gang were having ‘drinks’ till about 7 pm,” the SP said.
Roshan and his gang were waiting in a three-wheeler and, as Chuti Ukku’s vehicle passed Roshan’s house, Roshan himself opened fire killing Chuti Ukku and two of his accomplice, while those in the three-wheeler too opened fire killing one more person and injuring three others. Two days later, the main breakthrough came when, one of the weapons- T.56- used in the crime was found at Roshan’s relative’s residence in Puwakpitiya, Kadawatha.
The ‘killer’ gang, on the day of the crime, had visited another of Roshan’s relatives in Weliveriya, and left thereafter,
Investigations reveal that, the weapons for the crime had been obtained through the ‘good offices’ of a notorious criminal, ‘Dematagoda Chaminda’, who is presently in prison. Eleven suspects arrested have been placed in custody under a Detention Order until Monday.