Suspects involved in mistaken identity murder held

The Special Task Force has arrested five suspects related to the murder earlier this month in a salon at Kehelbaddara, Gampaha in what appears to be a shooting carried out due to a mistaken identity.

On August 6, two unidentified people entering a salon in Kehelbaddara, had shot a 20 year old and escaped while the injured was admitted to the Gampaha Hospital, where he died. 

While the shooting was deemed by the Police as a mistake since the victim had no criminal record, the Police consider the murder to have been conducted by an Underworld mobster called “Ganemulla Sanjeewa”, who lives in Dubai. 

On a raid in Gampaha by Gonahena Police STF officers including the Police inspector M. P. M. S. K. Weerakkody on August 26, five Gampaha residents aged 26, 23, 24, 36 and 28 were arrested on charges of aiding and abetting  the murder. 

The four male and one female suspects, who were arrested while in possession of nine mobile phones, a car and a locally produced revolver, were handed over to the Gampaha Police, who produced them to Magistrate Court on August 27.

The Gampaha Police and the Gonahena Police Special Task Force are conducting further inspections on the matter.