Indecent proposal puts man in hot water

Rasika Somarathna

A suspect in Major General Janaka Perera's assasination case who was released recently had fabricated a story to cover up his indecent acts which ultimately put him behind bars inconnection with the Anuradhapura bomb blast.

Explaining controversies surrounding the release of the suspect, Police Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekera said an attempt by the suspect to cover up an illegal affair had fuelled the whole drama. Following a thorough investigation, the CID had unearthed that the suspect a native of Kataragama had been selling fish in Anurdhapura after taking up residence there, SSP Gunesekera said.

The fish vendor, a close ally of a UNP strongman linked to the Pradeshiya Sabha had sent his family back to Kataragama a few days prior to the bomb explosion as one of his family members was gravely ill.

Taking advantage of the absence of his family the suspect had tried to molest a woman from a neighboring house whom he had lured to his residence with the promise of giving fish.

The act went wrong for the alleged suspect as the neighbours tried to assault him over the incident. He had fled the area taking wing to his native Kataragama the day prior to the bomb blast, the SSP added.

However, the suspect had arrived in Kataragama a day after the bomb blast and unable to explain his sudden presence to his family and relatives. He had woven a tale saying he was in close proximity to the place when the bomb blast occurred as he was a close ally of the aforesaid politician and fled Anuradhapura due to shock.

This had fuelled public suspicion coupled with his absence from the area soon after the explosion. The public had reffered the matter to Police which led to the arrest of the suspect.

After considering all evidence, the suspect who was detained for 30 days under detention orders by the CID was released, SSP Gunesekera said.

Investigations to apprehend the perpetrators of the blast were being carried out, the SSP said while claiming that a Rs. 2 million reward is on for any information helps identifying of the people behind the blast.