Kataragama: Pall of gloom after shooting

The Kataragama town bordering the Hambantota district which usually draws large crowds during Poya days was under a pall of gloom, last Wednesday, following an incident 10 days before, where a motorcyclist was killed in a shooting by the police.

Twenty-five-year-old Pathiranage Roshan and his friend Nuwan Buddhika were returning after a party on January 21, when a policeman tried to stop them and fired at the bike killing Mr Pathiranage and injuring the other.

The shooting incident sparked protests by the villagers and mob attacks on police posts around the sacred area prompting the police to arrest at least 58 persons. They were given surety bail of Rs 200,000 each.

The villagers accused the police for opening fire deliberately at the motor cycle rider without making an attempt to stop the motorcycle.

Politicians including candidates from the UPFA and the UNP blamed the police for the action prompting the Inspector General of police Pujith Jayasundara to visit the area and initiate action against the policeman involved.

The Officer in charge of the Katargama police station, IP S.K. Upali had been transferred to the area after the previous incident in Rathupaswala, Weliveriya where protesters demanding clean water were fired upon.