Daily Mirror, Lankadeepa journo, family attacked by armed gang

9 December 2019 07:55 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Aluthgama police were yet to arrest the suspects identified in connection with the assault of Daily Mirror /Lankadeepa Aluthgama Correspondent Thusitha Kumara de Silva and his wife on Friday night over an alleged exposure of an artificial toddy mafia in the Kalutara District.

A large number of Kalutara District journalists representing mainstream print and electronic media organisations staged a silent demonstration yesterday afternoon demanding Aluthgama police to bring the culprits of this attack to book without delay.

Thusitha Kumara and his wife, who had been rushed to Aluthgama Base Hospital in a traumatic condition with assaults to their heads and body by clubs on Friday night, had later been transferred to Kalutara General Hospital in Nagoda on Saturday.

The journo and his wife were away from home on a personal matter and had rushed back hearing that an armed gang had stormed their house and was attacking it around 7.00 p.m. Friday (06). Their son was the only occupant at home during the incident.

When the couple reached the scene, about 10 to 15 men armed with clubs had started attacking them threatening “you were the one who wrote about the artificial toddy industry in newspapers and exposed us”.

The gang had soon left the scene leaving the wounded couple behind who were rushed to the hospital by the neighbours.

Thusitha Kumara had lodged a complaint with the Aluthgama police regarding the assault and had given details of five of the gang as identified to be residents of the same area. His mobile phone and cash amounting to Rs.4,800 had also been missing in the attack.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, National Organiser of Independent Media Foundation of Kalutara Suresh Wijeyarangana said the district journalists gathered in solidarity to demand justice to Thusitha Kumara and his wife.

He said Thusitha was renowned for his brave reporting against illegal artificial toddy manufacturers in the area, where several large scale detections were made by Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel a few months back and seized 40,000 litres of chemical toddy in Aluthgama.

The demonstration was held to urge the law enforcement authorities to secure the lives of journalists who fight against this illegal and artificial toddy industry in the area carried out by the goons of top politicians and some leading underworld figures of Kosgama area.

Meanwhile, the Aluthgama police had searched the houses of the five identified suspects who had reportedly fled the area.

Special police protection has been given to journo Thusitha Kumara and his wife at the hospital as well as to their smashed house in Hettimulla.

JVP Parliamentarian Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa also took part in the demonstration. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana and Bandu Thambawita)

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Comments - 15

Mano Monday, 09 December 2019 08:10 AM

Life is very rough in the South

Chryshan K Monday, 09 December 2019 08:18 AM

After a long pause, journalists are being attacked again. Wait till general election is over to see most of the opposition media Houses being gutted down and few journalists being killed. Governance against media freedom and freedom of speech.

Anmanpan Monday, 09 December 2019 08:24 AM

This is what we asked for. It is now just the beginning.

Wasp Monday, 09 December 2019 08:24 AM

Of course the new govt. has shown the way!!!

joshua Monday, 09 December 2019 08:30 AM

time for goons to thrive

Devinda Uduwara Monday, 09 December 2019 08:35 AM

Their normal practice exercised.Is this a Sinhala-Buddhist country?

cheers Monday, 09 December 2019 08:36 AM

They must be Rajitha's golayas who allowed them to do all illegal stuff under yahapalanaya

johan Monday, 09 December 2019 08:46 AM

Why can't the Government and Opposition Mps in Kalutara demonstrate against these illegal activities only JVP. May be the ruling party along with Opposition support these activities

Pissa Monday, 09 December 2019 08:50 AM

Did this kind of things happened last few years ! Gota over to you !

TripleX Monday, 09 December 2019 08:53 AM

One more.

TONY Monday, 09 December 2019 09:00 AM

MEDIA FREEDOM HAS EXPIRED

Toddy Monday, 09 December 2019 09:10 AM

Coming colors not good, lets see if the culprits are arrested or the case is swept under the carpet. Public should watch the case careful and should demand for the arrest of all culprits. Imagine if it is like this now, what would happen after the general election

Bath kana Harak Monday, 09 December 2019 10:00 AM

White Van culture is back . What people voted for , They are getting sooner than later ! .

im so innocent in my family Monday, 09 December 2019 10:36 AM

first swiss embassy and nowhere again. President is very innocent

vithura Monday, 09 December 2019 12:30 PM

People deserve the governments they elect!

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Daily Mirror, Lankadeepa journo, family attacked by armed gang

Comments - 15

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