3 identified; no parade for Atha Kota, 8 others

Three out of four suspects produced before the Avissawella Magistrate was yesterday identified as having been involved in the killing of Noori Tea Estate Superintendent Nihal Perera.

The Magistrate also directed that an identification parade need not be conducted with regard to some of the key suspects

Avissawella Chief Magistrate and District Judge D.H.A. Seneviratne ordered an identification parade when 21 suspects were produced at the magisterial inquiry in connection with the killing. The Magistrate also directed that an identification parade need not be conducted with regard to some of the key suspects including Deraniyagala Pradeshiya Sabha’s former chairman Anil Champika alias ‘Atha Kota’ of the UPFA and his cousin brother Amila Wijesinghe. The court made this decision when the CID informed that they had already been identified as suspects in the case. The Magistrate ordered that three identification parades be conducted on 12 other suspects on three consecutive days starting from yesterday.

At the ID parade held for four suspects, Periyasamy Karupaiah, Subramaniyam Mahendran and Perumal Ravikumar were identified.

The inquiry is being conducted on the brutal attack and hacking to death of Mr. Perera on July 5. According to the evidence the suspects had used knives and poles inside the Noori Tea estate in broad daylight.

Pic by Jayamal Chandrasiri