CID probes Batticaloa killings

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

CID teams have begun probing recent shooting incidents in Batticaloa. Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya yesterday sent two CID teams for this purpose to the Eastern Province, Colombo Police Headquarters sources told the Daily News yesterday.

The CID will probe a series of shooting incidents including the killing of Rasamanikam Madyalahan (32), at his residence on May 12.

The deceased was the Coordinating Secretary to Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan.

Police arrested five Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) members, including a TMVP Pradeshiya Sabha member on suspicion over the incident, Batticaloe police sources said. .

Batticaloa Police said this was the second shooting incident to have been reported in Batticaloa for the past one and half years.

The first was a business related killing that had taken place at Kalawanchikudi where a tavern owner had been shot dead by a suspect. Batticaloa Police yesterday said the investigations on these killings are now conducted by the CID.

IGP Balasuriya asked the CID teams to submit a comprehensive report on the Eastern Province shooting incidents to him, on the orders of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

President Rajapaksa had asked the IGP to submit the report to him within a week at a meeting at Temple Trees with the IGP and TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan. Fifteen TMVP members were at the meeting.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present.

President Rajapaksa assured Chandrakanthan at the meeting that he will resolve the issue during the week, stating that all investigations should be carried out while ensuring the dignity of public officers at all times. He asked IGP Balasuriya to implement a co-ordination mechanism that will ensure that all arrests, and search operations are conducted within legal parameters .