Wasgomuwa hub of criminal activity: Police

The Wasgomuwa Sanctuary bungalow in the Matale district had been the centre of alleged nefarious activities, which had led to the killing of its caretaker M.G.Samaranayke and guide Dingiri Banda, a media conference on Friday in Kandy presided over by Deputy Inspector General (West) Kingsley Ekanayake was told.

Police investigators have found that poaching and sale of kasippu takes place while notorious characters who had connections with the caretaker visit the place. Four suspects from Dehiattakandiya have been taken into custody and were due to be produced before a magistrate yesterday.

Wasgomuwa is off Dambulla. Dehiatttakandiya and Wasgomuwa are divided by the Mahaweli Ganga. Four men who are farmers had been arrested by OIC Chief Inspector M.Farouk of the Kandy Special Crime Investigation Unit assisted by a team of officers, whose unit comes under the Deputy Inspector General of Police.

Apart from the arrested men, there is one who is absconding, whom the police believe would be taken into custody within the course of the week. The arrests have been under the direction of SP Gamini Seneviratne. Among the arrested suspects is one who is wanted for two alleged murders. The suspects are named by the Police as Wedi Chuti, Rala, Sampath and Jayaweera.

According to DIG Ekanayake, the Police have recovered a shot gun, a powder gun , a large knife and beedi leaves along with red and green wrappers. Aaccording to the Police, the beedi wrappers form a vital link with the alleged murder. The red wrappers are from Dehiattakandiya and the green wrappers are from Wasgama area, which areas are on either side of the Mahaweli Ganga.

Police allege that on the night of January 28 there had been the usual 'party' at the bungalow and the suspects had attended the 'party' where it is alleged liquor and kasippu had flowed. A large number of beedis had been lighted on this day, some stubs of which have been recovered.

During the party, the police allege that the caretaker had a fall injuring the back of his head and curry powder had been used to treat the wound. The caretaker had screamed when the curry powder had taken effect and then fallen into a drunken sleep.
The guide had also fallen asleep. Having gone out of the bungalow, the suspects had remembered the caretaker had said he possessed a gun for which they returned.

Realising that it was not safe to be identified as the robbers of the firearms, it is alleged they had come back and cut the neck of one and later shot both of them. Police investigators had found that there were large quantities of rice on the premises which led to the conclusion that others could be involved in this alleged murder.

DIG Ekanayake said that the arrest of the absconding suspect would seal the case. The investigation team included Chief Inspector M.Rafitula and Inspectors Chintaka Bandara and Amarasinghe. SSP Gamanpila was also present at the media conference.