JVPER KILLED IN ATTACK

A Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna ( JVP) activist in Konketiyawa, Padaviya was beaten to death by a gang that entered his residence on Saturday night (12), Police said.

The victim, C.L. Sonny Senaratne (40) was the father of two children and the owner of a small rice mill.

Police said the two vehicles had left from the scene after the incident and gone in the direction of Kebithigollewa disregarding orders to halt at check points

Investigations revealed that he with a lorry driver when a gang arrived in a white Land Rover Defender and a black Pajero and halted in front of his house and assaulted him. The lorry driver who was with him was also hurt in the incident.

Police said the two vehicles had left from the scene after the incident and gone away in the direction of Kebithigollewa disregarding orders to halt at check points.

The alleged killers were later arrested and the two vehicles seized during a raid by the Chunakkam Police last afternoon. Police said five men were taken into custody from the office of a company supplying food stuffs to the security forces in the north. Investigations revealed that the two vehicles involved in the incident belonged to the company. The driver and cleaner of a lorry belonging to the company were also taken into custody on suspicion. The two men had allegedly been present when Senaratne was killed.

Inquiries revealed that a man had come driving a lorry to the rice mill (which was adjacent to the house) to purchase a stock of rice when the gang arrived in two vehicles and assaulted Senaratne. Senaratne died after admission to the Padaviya Hospital. The two vehicles had then driven away but some eyewitnesses had noted the numbers of the two vehicles and informed the police.