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| Monday, 26 July 2004 |
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Eight gunned down in pre-dawn attack by Sarath Malalasekera and Ranil Wijayapala Eight people believed to be associates of LTTE breakaway leader Karuna were killed in a reported pre-dawn attack on a safehouse supposed to be managed by the Karuna faction near the Kottawa-Malabe road, Police said yesterday. The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website reported the incident at 02.45 GMT (around 8.45 a.m.) long before Police were informed of the incident and located the house where eight people were killed following information from media.
However, after locating the house, Police confirmed the killing of eight people who were said to be from the Karuna faction. According to reports, the killings had taken place at the two storied house at 1607/10, Crystal Terrace, Malabe road, Kottawa, Pannipitiya. They have been killed while sleeping on the upper floor of the house. "The bodies were found in two rooms, in the sitting room and near the kitchen of the upper floor of the house," witnesses said. The house believed to be a safe house of the Karuna faction is located near a rubber plantation and no other houses are on that side of the road. Western Province South DIG K.P.P. Pathirana directing investigations revealed that one of the persons gunned down was believed to be a military intelligence leader of the Karuna Group. The Tamilnet website quoting sources in Batticaloa reported that Karuna's deputy called 'Kuhanesan' and a Sri Lanka military intelligence operative were also among those killed. Military Spokesman Colonel Sumedha Perera categorically denied the report that a military intelligence operative was among those killed. "Director Military Intelligence Brigadier Kapila Hendawitharana categorically denies that a military intelligence operative was among the eight youths killed," Colonel Perera added. The Homagama Police assisted by Kottawa Police are conducting investigations into the killing. The Homagama Magistrate yesterday visited the scene at Kottawa-Malabe main road and made his observations and directed the Police to arrest the suspects and produce them before Court. Acting HQI Homagama Inspector A.D. Tillekeratne with Inspector Anura Shantha Herath, OIC, Kottawa Police, SI Parakrama and SI Chandrasekera are assisting in the investigations. |
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