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Five-member squad to probe : UC Chairman's killing

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka and Asanga Warnakulasuriya

Inspector General of Police T. E. Anandaraja has yesterday assigned a five-member CID squad headed by a Superintendent of Police to investigate the killing of Hikkaduwa Urban Council Chairman Gamini Pinnaduwage.

"The Galle District Crime Prevention Bureau and Hikkaduwa Police have also appointed two separate teams to inquire into Monday's murder", Galle District ASP Ananda Wijesuriya told the Daily News yesterday. The CID officers had gone to Hikkaduwa yesterday morning to conduct investigations.

Police believe a political tug-of-war with his rivals was the reason for the killing. Pinnaduwage had earlier filed two court cases against his rival. A witness, relative of Pinnaduwage in his statement to Police has said that a PA local politician in the Hikkaduwa area had on several occasions threatened the UC Chairman openly saying that he will "finish him off" within one week.

Initial investigation held by the Police had revealed that Pinnaduwage was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on Monday around 1.30 pm while he was having a nap in his office after returning from meeting.

The two gunmen had arrived on a motorcycle and fired a whole magazine with a 9mm gun when the staff of Pinnaduwage were at lunch. "Nine bullets had entered the UC Chairman's chest while another two had entered through the arm", ASP said. The body of Pinnaduwage had been at the premises for approximately around 20 minutes before the Police arrived at the scene, Police said. Galle District JMO Dr. U. C. B. Perera yesterday morning visited the UC for further investigations.

Hikkaduwa OIC Wilet Bandara said that the body of the Chairman was handed over to his family on Monday night.The funeral of Pinnaduwage will be held on March 27, a relative told the Daily News . Galle Police are very much optimistic about arresting the suspects since the Hikkaduwa UC building is situated in the heart of Hikkaduwa town.

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