Inspector, wife shot dead

Sarath Malalasekera

COLOMBO: Inspector Nimal Douglas of the Dematagoda police and his wife Dhammika Vinodani Silva were killed by unidentified gunmen near the Pore junction in the Athurugiriya police area yesterday morning.

Investigations revealed that Inspector Douglas was a suspect in the alleged drug trafficking case at Borella where eight policemen were arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for allegedly assisting a woman drug trafficker.

Later the eight policemen including Douglas were released by the Maligakanda Magistrate and Additional District Judge Priyantha de Silva on an application by the Attorney General as there was no evidence to charge them before court.

Investigations also revealed Inspector Douglas and his wife were on their way to meet the IGP Chandra Fernando and to lodge a complaint at the Human Rights Commission against several senior police personnel who are alleged to have been involved in the drug trafficking.

On the direction of the IGP, the Criminal Investigations Department took over the investigations into the killing assisted by Western Province South DIG K. P. P. Pathirana and Homagama North ASP with Athurugiriya Police.