Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sri Lanka: Another civilian arresed and shot dead by the police

File photo (bfi.org.uk)
Below we publish a news item for mainstream newsapaper in Sri Lanka. It has published the police version of the killing of a civilain, after he was arrrested justifing the killing of another civilian by police. This shows the self censorship that prevails in Sri Lankan media.
Underworld gangster ‘Heen malli’ shot dead
Notorious underworld gangster ‘Palankada Heen malli’,alleged to have been responsible for several killings including that of a Ratnapura gem businessman, last month was shot dead in a police shootout today.

 Ratnapura Police said Sugath Chaminda alias Palankada Heen malli was arrested in connection with the killing of gem merchant Sumith Gunasekara of Malangama and the robbery of cash, gems and jewellery from his house on February 13.

They said the suspect was shot in self-defense when he attempted to hurl a hand grenade at the police who accompanied him to his hideout at Mahawalawatta.

 He had taken them there to surrender the weapon he is said to have used in carrying out several of his criminal activities. The suspect died on admission to the Ratnapura General Hospital. (Ajithlal Shantha Udaya
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