Anonymous letter says that police killed and burned two persons who disappeared in Rathgama!

Anonymous letter says that police killed and burned two persons who disappeared in Rathgama!

A senior officer of Crime Investigation Department yesterday said that it is suspected that the disappearance of Udagama, Rathna, Boossa is an incident similar to two young people were murdered by police officers in Angulana. 

As investigation procedures being conducted by Rathgama and Galle Police Stations in connection with the incident of the disappearance of a father of three and a father of one child, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Pujith Jayasundera  has handed over investigations to the unit of search for mysterious
murders under Crime Investigation Department as he was not satisfied with the formers' investigations. 

It was a 33 year old father of three children named Manjula Asela Kumara and a 31 year old of one child named K. Rasin Chinthaka who were abducted from the town of Udagama in Rathgama around 10.15 in the afternoon of January 23rd. 

Rasin was a businessman who used to buy fish from the fisheries harbour and transported them to Negombo while Manjula was a person who carried on a poultry business close to Rathgama town. In order to conduct investigation in respect of this incident, a posse of officers of search for mysterious murders of Crime Investigation Department have gone to Boossa, Rathgama area. No trace of these two individuals could be found so far. 

Though Rathgama Police conducted investigation in connection with the disappearance of thee two people, a high-ranking police officer has said that no clue could be found about them. A complaint has been received by Rathgama Police that about 13 persons attired in uniforms akin to police uniforms have come in two vehicles having armed themselves and have thus abducted these two. Though the home-people have gone to both Rathgama and Galle Police Stations with the idea of searching for them and as there was no information received, a protest has been launched, blocking Galle - Colombo Road last 26th. 

In the meantime, an anonymous letter was received addressed to Manjula's house last 6th that the two who have disappeared had been taken away by police and that when they were beaten one of them had died and for that reason since the other person was a witness to the scene, he too was killed and burnt. 

Disappeared Manjula Asela Kumara's wife, Manjula Samanthi has had this to say: "When husband was being taken away I was at the boutique. Then mother came and said a black-coloured van and a white-coloured car came and took Manjula away. It was those dressed in police uniforms who had come in both these vehicles. Those who saw say that about 13 of them had come. That very moment I rushed home and went to Rathgama Police. Police did not record my statement ... and told to come in the evening. After that we went to Galle Police. They also did not take our statement. What they also said was to look for any information till evening. Once again we went to Rathgama Police at 4 in the evening and waited till 7 when our statement was taken. After that we went daily to police and looked for any information and since nothing seems to be forthcoming, we resorted to this protest. It was on the 6th that an anonymous letter came giving all these details. With that we went to the officer in charge of Rathgama Police and handed it to him. that letter has been handed over to Mr. Sathis Gamage in Galle. No information was given about them".

Deepika Priyanka, wife of Rasin has said this: "My husband went to Galle pier that day and came home by 9.58 in the morning. It is recorded in CCTV camera. He said that he has to return some money and left saying that he has to again to the pier. Not even ten minutes passed ... a message came to the effect that police came and that he was taken away. 

Immediately that moment we went to Rathgama Police. Went to Galle Police also. Statements were recorded by neither police station. Later, Rathgama Police said that they had received no message and it was at about 6.30 the statement was recorded. Three weeks have passed ... still there is no information as such. What Police Superintendent, Mr. Sathis Gamage said was that to go home making up our minds that both of them are living. It was during that time that Samanthi nangi received an anonymous letter. That letter also was for Rathgama Police ... showed it to Matara Police. But we got no clear reply". 

Officer in Charge of Rathgama Police said this about accusations aimed at police: "We do not have the necessity to kidnap people that way as they say. Some incident has taken place. We are conducting a formal inquiry in that connection. So, soon this will come into the open".