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Massive protest by villagers

by Ranil Wijayapala

Fifteen houses and 11 vehicles were damaged and one person was injured in Nawaratne village Hingurakgoda on Monday night when it came under attack by an unidentified gang during the blackout.

The injured person admitted to the Hingurakgoda hospital, Police said.

The residents of Nawaratne village staged a protest near Hingurakgoda town blocking the road alleging that Air Force personnel were responsible for the attack.

Nearly 500 people carried banners and placards against the Air Force, Police said.

Superintendent of Police Jayantha Wickremesinghe is inquiring into the incident and to find out of any Air Force personnel' involvement in the incident.

According to SP Wickremasinghe, statements from nearly 30 people on, the incident have been recorded. Some of them gave evidence about Air Force personnel involvement in the incident.

"We are inquiring into the incident and will arrest those who are responsible for the attack", he added.

Most of the damaged vehicles were inside a garage whose owner had no connection with the incident.

According to Police, the incident followed a row between some Air Force personnel and some residents of the area during a musical show in Hingurakgoda during the weekend.

A group of 30 men came in vehicles with iron rods and belts and had attacked houses during the blackout and had gone away within few minutes.

Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Ajith Wijesundera told the Daily News yesterday that Hingurakgoda Air Force Base Commander Group Captain Dayapala had visited the Police station and had assured their cooperation for the investigations.

Initial inquiries carried out by Air Force officials confirmed that none of their vehicles was out of the camp during this period and only around 20 Air Force personnel were out of the camp.

"They also had gone out of the camp to attend to their private needs", he added.

However, Air Force officers had learnt that two airmen got assaulted by some people in the area during a musical show at Hingurakgoda but they had not made any complaint with the Air Force officers at the camp.

The situation in the Hingurakgoda area returned to normal by afternoon, Police said.

Investigations are now on under the supervision of ASP Sahabandu and Hingurakgoda HQI Kamal Karunaratne.

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