Delgoda murder: Suspects’ houses torched

Rafik Jalaldeen and Sudath Pubudu Keerthi, Delgoda Correspondent

DELGODA: Five houses belonging to prime suspect in the Delgoda multiple murder case and his relatives were set on fire by enraged villagers yesterday morning following the burial of the victims.

Five persons from the same family including two children who were brutally hacked to death on Saturday over a land dispute, were buried on Monday amid a large gathering in Mahawatta, Delgoda.

Following the burial, enraged villagers torched the five houses belonging to the prime suspect and his three brothers in Delgodawatte and Mahawatte, Kelaniya Division SSP Nihal Samarakoon said.

“We have questioned 15 to 20 suspects regarding to the murder but released them all due to lack of evidence,” SSP Samarakoon told the Daily News.

The prime suspect who had dispute over a land matter is missing from the area and police are on his trail.

“We have deployed four police teams to investigate. Each team will investigate each aspect of the incident - the suspects, the land dispute matter, contract killing and local inquiries,” SSP Samarakoon said.

The OIC of Meegahawatte police station has been transferred as he had failed to protect the suspects.