Intelligence Corps officer gunned down

BY Ananth Palakidnar and Sarath Malalasekera

A SENIOR officer of the Military Intelligence Corps Lieutenant Colonel T. Rizi Meedin, 39, was shot dead with a 9mm pistol near his home in Kiribathgoda at 12.30 a.m. yesterday. According to the Army Media Unit, Meedin was pronounced dead at the Colombo National Hospital at 1.40 a.m..

Meedin had left his home at the National Housing Scheme, Kiribathgoda with some persons around 9.45 p.m. on Saturday. At 12.30 a.m. his wife received a phone call that Meedin was found shot inside his vehicle, military sources said.

Meedin was rushed to the Colombo National Hospital by Kiribathgoda police and Military police where he was pronounced dead, the sources said.

Western Province North Deputy Inspector General of Police Asoka Wijetilleke directing investigations has deployed two special teams to trace the assailants.

Four persons were taken into custody by the special team.

Meedin joined the Army as an Officer Cadet in 1986 and was commissioned in 1987. He was the Commanding Officer of the First Military Intelligence Corps.

Meedin was the second high ranking officer of the Military Intelligence Corps to be gunned down since the killing of Lt. Col. Nizam Muthalif on May 31 this year, military sources said.

Brigadier T.F. Meedin, the elder brother of Meedin, serves as the Commanding officer of the 515 Brigade in Jaffna.

Meedin leaves his wife and two children aged 12 and nine.

According to army sources, Meedin was the 64th Armed Forces member to be killed since the Ceasefire Agreement came into effect in February, 2002.

Following the request made by the family members of the deceased Lt. Colonel, the Janaza with military honours was not held.

Several senior military officials were present at the burial grounds to pay their last respects.