A notorious drug dealer and underworld gang member was killed yesterday during a confrontation with the Police in Gampaha, according to Police Media Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne.
The Malwathu Hiripitiya Police acting on a tip-off had set a roadblock in the Malwathu Hiripitiya area in Puwakpitiya and had signalled a motorcyclist to stop. However, the motorcyclist had disregarded the orders of the Police and sped off.
The Police officers had given chase and the motorcycle rider had fired at the Police, which prompted the police to open fire. The incident had occurred around 5.30 last morning (26).
The suspect had sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire and was later taken to the Malwathu Hiripitiya Hospital around 5.50 am yesterday but he had succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Rankoth Jedige Sanjeewa Sampath alias ‘Ketawala Pitige Sampath’, a resident of Meewitiya, Ellakkala.
According to the Police Spokesman, the suspect is a close associate of the underworld gangster ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’.
SSP Senaratne also noted that the suspect had been involved in many criminal activities including the shooting of a 35-year-old woman in the Ranmuthugama area in Kadawatha on August 28, 2018.
The Police had also taken into custody the revolver manufactured in a foreign country which was used by the deceased suspect to fire at the Police officers and the motorcycle he was riding. The suspect has been identified as a criminal gang member and drug racketeer.
The inquest was conducted by the Gampaha Magistrate and ordered the Gampaha Hospital JMO to conduct the post-mortem examination which is scheduled to be held today (27). The Police have also requested the Motor Traffic Department to report on the ownership of the motorcycle used by the suspect.
Colombo-North Crimes Division and Malwathu Hiripitiya Police are conducting further investigations under the directive of the Gampaha ASP.
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‘Ketawalapitiye Sampath' shot dead in shootout with police (11:35)
Drug dealer ‘Ketawalapitiye Sampath’ was shot dead in a shootout with the police at Malwathu Hiripitiya in Gampaha, this morning.
The shooting had taken place during a confrontation with police.
The Police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne said, when the police officers had repeatedly ordered the vehicle to stop, but the vehicle had ignored orders and continued to speed away and the suspect had fired gunshots at the police officers who were giving chase to the speeding vehicle.
This had prompted the police officers to open fire at the suspect.
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