Soldier victim of brawl between two parties

An Army soldier who had been receiving treatment at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital after being wounded at a brawl between two parties who went to bathe in Anda Helena Ella in Pituwala, Elpitiya, succumbed yesterday noon.

The deceased, identified as K. W. K. Rasika Sampath was a 22-year-old resident from Thalgaswala, Horangalla.

It has been revealed in police investigations that the deceased who had been on leave on February 1, had gone to bathe in Anda Helena Ella with his 14-year-old cousin and had gone to the waterfall after consuming liquor. Four other people who had come to bathe had also consumed liquor. Subsequently, a brawl had ensued between the two parties, in which one of the four individuals had hit the soldier’s hand with a stick and had also hit his head while he was trying to escape.

His cousin had taken the wounded to a nearby house and subsequently to his house in a vehicle. The soldier has informed his family members that he had fallen while bathing. The cousin has also not informed the family either. He had been admitted to Elpitiya Hospital after he fell sick at night and later had been transferred to Karapitiya Hospital for further treatment.

The Acting Magistrate of Elpitiya ordered the Elpitiya Police to report at the place where the incident occurred and to arrest and produce the suspects before the courts after conducting primary investigations.

Investigations into arresting the suspects are being conducted by Elpitiya Police on the instructions of Elpitiya Superintendent of Police, Buddhi Udugamasuriya.

It has been revealed in police investigations that the deceased who had been on leave on February 1, had gone to bathe in Anda Helena Ella with his 14-yearold cousin and had gone to the waterfall after consuming liquor