The Colombo Crime Division has arrested ‘Galkandaya’ alias ‘Abitthiya’, a member of a criminal gang who was preparing to flee the country using a fake passport, after committing a murder on the orders of his underworld leader.
Along with the suspect, a locally made live grenade, a locally made firearm, a fake passport and 580 milligrams of ice (crystal methamphetamine) have been taken into police custody.
The Police said that the suspect is a skilled gunman who was attached to the 14th Sinha Regiment of the Army and served during the war and escaped from it in 2010.
The Police said that a group of officers attached to the Organized Crime Investigation Unit of Colombo Crime Division, led by Deputy Inspector of Police R.M.R. Chaturanga searched for the suspect in the Meethotamulla area while they were patrolling the Kolonnawa area.
A police officer said that he was arrested after finding ice in his possession and was produced before the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court and then remanded for seven days.
During the questioning of the suspect, it was revealed that a fake passport had been prepared for him by Hinatayana Mahesh, who leads an organized crime gang while hiding in Dubai. This fake passport was found in a room of the house where this suspect was working under the guise of a carpenter. The house is located in Kuda Paluwa Don Bosco Mawatha, Negombo.
It was also found that a live grenade made in this country, which was to be used for some crime, was buried behind the house.
During further questioning of the suspect, the police were able to find an illegal firearm made in this country, hidden in the roof of the suspect’s Horanpalla Weragodamulla house.
A senior police officer said that during the questioning of the suspect, it was revealed that he was ready to commit a murder at any moment on the orders of Mahesh.
Bimal Jayasinghe