Beruwela shooting: Suspects at large

A special police team investigating the Beruwela shooting incident which occurred between the Police and cattle thieves in broad daylight on September 16 has so far failed to make any arrests.

The two youth who opened fire at the Police party who arrived in Beruwela from the Maharagama police to arrest them are still at large.

This police party had not lodged an entry at the Beruwela police regarding their visit to Beruwela to arrest the cattle thieves. A police team investigating the incident confirmed that on September 16 two youths came in a van and fired at the police party. During the crossfire seven year old S Nilupul de Silva who was seated in a parked three wheeler on the road received gunshot injuries and died on admission to the Nagoda Hospital. The boy’s father Nihal Gunaratne was also injured.

The police team have collected information regarding the two youths who fired at the police party. Police believe that the suspects were involved in illegally transporting cattle to Colombo from the South. The van on which the suspects had travelled was found abandoned at the Nagoda Hospital premises on September 17.Meanwhile, the DIG Southern Province has interdicted five policemen and Police Inspector of Maharagama Police who have been remanded by Kalutara Additional Magistrate Namal Perera till September 30. The Special Police team will submit a report to Court regarding the progress if inquired.