Sixty shooting incidents involving various firearms have been reported across the country over the past six months. A total of 34 people have died in these incidents.
According to the Police Divisional Office, 44 of these shootings are believed to have been carried out by members of organized criminal (underworld) gangs. These gang-related shootings have reportedly resulted in 42 deaths.
Meanwhile, in the first three days of this month alone, three more shootings were reported from different parts of the island.
The first took place in front of the Kandana Police Station, where two individuals traveling in a car were shot. The intended target was Sameera Manohara, also known as “Weli Sameera,” a former personal secretary to the late Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Sameera sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Ragama Hospital, while his cousin, who was also in the car, died in the attack.
The second shooting was reported in the Negombo-Dungalpitiya Police Division. Acting on a tip-off regarding drug transportation, police had ordered a motorcycle to stop near the Lellama police roadblock. The riders failed to comply, prompting police to open fire below the knee. The motorcycle then collided with an oncoming lorry and came to a halt. One rider was hospitalized at Negombo Hospital, and the other taken into police custody.
The third shooting occurred in the Batuwatta area of Ragama on the night of July 2. The victim, Ami Upul, was an associate of known underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa. He was shot dead in what appears to be a targeted attack.
Separately, on June 30, a youth was killed and another injured in a shooting in Kahawatta. The deceased, 22-year-old Imantha Suranjan, is suspected to have been targeted for providing information to the police regarding drug trafficking operations. The injured victim was admitted to Kahawatta Base Hospital.
Imantha’s funeral was held on July 3 at the family cemetery. Following the funeral, a tense situation erupted between villagers and the police. Reports indicate that nearly 150 police officers were deployed in the area. Villagers and relatives reportedly pelted stones, accusing the police of being complicit in the murder. Riot control units used tear gas to disperse the crowd. In the unrest, a three-wheeler belonging to a suspect in the murder was also set on fire.
Unconfirmed reports allege police negligence in the incident.
The NPP government, which came to power promising to curb organized crime within a few months, has so far failed to prevent the continued surge in gun violence allegedly perpetrated by underworld groups.
With the inputs from https://whatnews.lk