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People fear rise in crime as one incident claims innocent life in Kochchikade police area
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Rasika Fernandopulle: Victim of a handbag snatching incident
Crime incidents in the Kochchikade Police area have been on the rise in recent weeks, with one tragically claiming the life of a bank employee. A 28-year-old youth fell victim when he was stabbed after he tried to prevent his wife and her friend being robbed just close to their home.
The victim, Rasika Vinoth Fernandopulle was from Udangawa Kochchikade. On that fateful day, around 7 p.m. his wife had been returning home after work with another friend, when suddenly a motorbike with two riders approached them and tried to snatch the friend’s handbag.
The friend had resisted and held onto the handbag resulting in her being dragged on the road as the suspects attempted to flee. Hearing their cries Rasika’s father in law, who had been tending to some work close to the gate had run to their aid and tried to stop the bike. One of the suspects had tried to attack him with a sword injuring him. Hearing the commotion, Rasika had also rushed to the scene. At this point the pillion rider, a woman had stabbed him several times in the chest.
The two suspects had then fled abandoning their bike.
Rasika who was rushed to hospital later succumbed to his injuries.
The victim was an employee of a state bank in Seeduwa.
His father in law who was also admitted to hospital is reportedly out of danger.
“These robberies, some even in broad daylight, have become a serious threat to the people in this area. Some blame the economic crises. But the question is why are innocent people being killed,” asked a neighbour who said Rasika was well loved in the area.
This incident has not been an isolated one with several incidents being reported in the past weeks from the same area.
In one instance a man had entered the house of an elderly woman through the roof at daytime. He had been hiding in a room and when she had opened the door of the room he had shoved her aside and run away. The woman had lodged a complaint with the Kochchikade police and the inquiry is still ongoing.
In another, a youth had entered a house at mid night and had been hiding in a room. Suddenly the inmate of the house had seen him and had caught him with the help of others and handed him over to the Kochchikade Police. The suspect was reportedly in the possession of a knife.
In yet another case a burglar had entered a house when the inmates were out attending Sunday mass. The suspect had forced open a drawer and stolen jewellery worth more than a lakh. A complaint had been lodged at the same police station but no one has been apprehended yet.
Text and pix by K.L.Richard
Walter Perera
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