Organised crime wave takes its toll on another three in Galle

• Shooting occurred at around 11 p.m. while the victims were drinking

By D.G.Sugathapala and Sumathipala Diyagahage   

The owner of a guest house at Panangala in Hiniduma and two  others had been shot dead on Thursday night (30) by two unidentified  gunmen.   

DIG Galle Division Jagath Sarem said the gunmen who arrived on a motorcycle had caused the shooting with a T56 rifle at about 11 pm.   

The owner of the guest house P.W.D. Indunil Saman Kumara  (55), of Mahabodhiwatta in Hiniduma, S.M.Nimal of Batapola and  Chaturanga Kumara Batagoda (39) of Hiniduma were killed in the  shooting.  Investigations revealed that they were enjoying a drink  when the gunmen rushed to the scene and shot them. However, two others  at the scene had escaped unhurt.   

The circumstances that led to the killing were yet to be  established, but the police suspect the possibility of a dispute over a  financial transaction.   

Udugama Magistrate Rajitha Abeywickrama who visited the  scene and held the preliminary magisterial inquiry ordered police to  refer the bodies for postmortem examination and to conduct  investigations to arrest the suspects.  A police team under OIC Hiniduma Police CI  H.A.G.M.Wijetunga is conducting investigations on the instructions of  DIG Kelum Tilakaratne.