'Kapuwa' in trance stabs tourist

L. B. Wijayasiri

KANDY:A German national touring Sri Lanka was admitted to the Teaching Hospital, Kandy with injuries alleged to have been caused by stabbing by a "Kapuwa" who was conducting a religious procession in Kandy town.

The procession of Badhrakali Amman Kovil at Reservoir road Kandy organised by the suspect - the "kapuwa" was being conducted along Dalada Veediya Kandy when the German tourist had been watching the procession.

The "kapuwa" is alleged to have stabbed the tourist with the "Thrishula" he was carrying at the time. "Thrishula" is a weapon with three sharp pins commonly used by Hindu devotees in their peraheras.

The suspect, on being questioned has told the police that he has stabbed the tourist when he (suspect) was under the influence of God power and was out of his conscious.

He was later produced before Kandy Magistrate Harsha Sethunga who released the suspect on a personal bail in a sum of Rs. 100,000 and directed him to appear in court on the next date.