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| Sunday, 2 November 2003 |
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Gruesome massacre The gruesome murder of a sister and brother by a 15 year old boy in a remote hamlet of Ambalanpitiya in Eheliyagoda shocked the nation last week. It was the second such barbaric act committed in recent times after the notorious Hokandara massacre a couple of years ago where an entire family of six persons were wiped out by ruthless men dealing in illicit brew. According to police, several thousands of curious people from adjacent villages like Ebulpitiya, Digowa, Panila still keep flocking to Ambalanpitiya where the massacre took place. The village is located in the Parakaduwa area about 10 kilometres from Eheliyagoda close to the Pammegama Estate. Meanwhile people incensed over the double murder even set fire to the house of the accused to avenge the killings. The bodies of the sister and brother were buried in a piece of land belonging to the accused last Wednesday, police said. People were aghast to hear about the gruesome murder which has raised many questions. Are we living in a sick society where a 15-year-old school boy, a minor takes it upon himself to hack to death his neighbours a brother and sister with a sword, over a land dispute. The alleged killer is Rumesh Sameera Dassanayake and the two victims were Swarna, a student following a diploma course at the Kelaniya University and her brother Susantha, an insurance agent. Swarna's mother Kusumawathie too sustained cut injures when the suspect attacked her with a sword while she was in her compound. She was later rushed to the National Hospital Colombo where she is now lying in a critical condition, police said. It was a Buddhist monk living in a temple at Ambalanpitiya who reported the murder to the police. In fact, at the time of the incident, some neighbours had heard screams from the direction of Kusumawathie's house, but had been too scared to step out of their houses to investigate. OIC Eheliyagoda Police, Kumar Sandanayake said the motive for the murder was a land dispute between the suspect's mother and Kusumawathie's family. "The two families are in fact closely related. But antagonism between them had boiled over for many years, due to the land dispute." he said. OIC (Crimes) Eheliyagoda Police, S. Solangaarchchi said the police are in the process of recording statements from several neighbours to collect evidence. "The sword used in the massacre have been recovered from the compound of the suspect", he said. The incident happened between 6.30 and 7.30 am or pm? on Sunday while Kusumawathie was in her backyard. Suspect Sameera armed with a sword had gone there and cut Kusumawathie with the sword after a heated argument. He dragged her near a shrub and left her there thinking she was dead. Later when Kusumawathie's daughter Swarna returned home, the suspect rushed in and attacked her with the sword. Police later found the body laying in the compound with her identity card lying bedsides her. Meanwhile, the suspect who was waiting in ambush, then attacked Susantha when he returned home. He too was killed on the spot and his body was found lying near the house. A special police party led by OIC Eheliyagoda, Inspector Sandanayake arrested the suspect, Rumesh Sameera Dassanayake hiding in another village. His mother Podi Nona and classmate Suresh were also produced before the Avissawella Magistrate who remanded them. Police are investigating whether Sameera alone had committed the murder or whether other persons were involved in it. Police said that Suresh had dropped in at his friend's house, but later fled when he witnessed Sameera chopping his neighbour Swarna with a sword. The killer thereafter hid the sword and the blood stained clothes. However he told the police that he alone committed the murder and the place where he hid the weapon. The episode offers a glimpse into the world of hatred where even a young boy of 15 is capable of committing double murder. |
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