BAKERY WORKER STABS WIFE, TAKES POISON

Abakery worker in Agalawatte, who suspected his wife, had allegedly stabbed her to death and committed suicide by taking poison, the Police said. The victims, Duwage Renuka Malkanthi (39) and Achala Kumara Jayaratne (41), were residents of Dapiligoda in Agalawatte in the Matugama Police area.

The woman had been running a Devala near their house and held prayers to invoke the blessings of the Gods on devotees, to find cures for ailments and to find relief from problems, while her husband worked in the bakery.

Matugama Acting Magistrate Pushpakumara Amugoda, who visited the scene and Pimbura Hospital, where the bodies were lying, held the preliminary Magisterial Inquiry.

Their only daughter giving evidence at the Magisterial Inquiry stated that her mother often received calls, which she said were from devotees.

“However my father suspected her and checked the calls. Today, my mother had locked the cellular phone and it led to an altercation between them. I went to a nearby relative’s house and on hearing the quarrel I rushed to the scene, to find my mother lying in a pool of blood and my father lying on the ground near the Devala.

“When I asked him he said he had taken poison. I, with the help of a relative, rushed them to hospital. I later understood that they died,” she stated.

OIC Crimes Investigation Ravindra Pushpakumara , Sergeant 24062 Athula, 21640 Weeratunga, PC 36624 Rodrigo and WPC 2017 Priyanka are conducting investigations on the instructions of HQI Matugama Police M. Chandra Pathmalal.

The autopsies were to be held at the Nagoda Hospital yesterday.