Elpitiya University Student Killing: Soldier under arrest ( A Special Report)
Posted by Unknown on Saturday, May 24, 2014 | 0 comments
A second year student of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts was found murdered in Elpitiya at dawn on Saturday.
The twenty-two-year-old has been identified as K.A. Dimasha Gayaniki. Police discovered her body this morning, inside a building adjacent to the Elpitiya bus stop.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Dimasha, a resident of Thalgaswala in Niyagama, left home early Saturday morning with the intention of travelling to Colombo. After leaving home at 3:00 a.m. Dimasha arrived at the Elpitiya bus stop on a Colombo bound SLTB bus from Mapalagama.
The conductor of the bus noted that he knew the murdered student. Dimasha’s body was discovered not far from the Elpitiya bus stop.
While the police say that a love affair is also at the centre of this murder, Dimasha’s mother says that Dimasha and the youth in question had an argument when they spoke over the phone on Friday.
Police say that the youth too had arrived in Elpitiya at dawn on Saturday, adding that whatever had transpired had followed his arrival. Police noted that Dimasha had six wounds on her body.
The Judicial Medical Officer in Elpitiya Susantha Lellawala, arrived at the location on Saturday and carried out an investigation of the crime scene. The magisterial inquest was conducted by the Acting Magistrate of Elpitiya, Janaka Ruwanpura.
The police arrived at the crime scene this afternoon with the suspect in tow.
The police identified the suspect as a 24 year old soldier, attached to the Thanthirimale Army Camp.
A communique issued by Army Headquarters notes that the Army Commander has instructed senior officers to provide all assistance to the police to ensure the success of investigations.
The communique notes that the Army Commander had reiterated that individuals involved in such crimes would face disciplinary action regardless of their status, adding that if the suspect is found guilty by a civil court then steps will be taken to bring him before a court martial and take action to remove him from the army.
Police Media Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana says that the suspect is being interrogated. Dimasha’s body was taken to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital on Saturday afternoon.
