Five persons who posed as police officers and raided a guest house in Mawanella, sped off in a van when they were discovered, knocking down three pedestrians, killing one and injuring two.
A 63-year old man succumbed to his injuries while being treated at the Kandy Hospital. The two injured children were eight and 16 years old.
According to police five people, including a woman, claiming to be police officers had arrived at the guest house in a hired van and demanded to check the identities of the occupants in the motel. When challenged by the motel owner to produce their official identities the group had panicked and tried to make a get-away in the van.
However, the van had been given chase by the motel owner, police and area residents and in the melee the van had hit the elderly man and the children, the motel owner K.G. Piyatissa who is also a member of the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha said.
The children were returning after tuition classes when they were knocked down.
Investigations have revealed that among the four suspects were an interdicted former police sub inspector (SI) and a constable.
According to police the group had carried out several successful raids in motels and hotels in the area.
In one particular case the suspects had rounded up an unmarried couple from a guest house in the area and later demanded Rs. 20,000 from them and threatened to file charges if they did not co-operate.
The couple gave the cash and were subsequently released. |
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