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Karandeniya PS deputy chairman shooting: One suspect arrested, other on the run
View(s):Police yesterday arrested one of the two suspects allegedly involved in the shooting of Karandeniya Pradeshiya Sabha deputy chairman Donald Sampath.
The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Asela Ranasinghe, was taken into custody by the Uragasmanhandiya Police while he was undergoing treatment at the Uragasmanhandiya Hospital last morning. Mr. Sampath, who represents the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), was travelling in a double cab along with two others when he was shot dead by two assailants on a motorbike around 10.15 p.m. on Friday.
Police said the bike that the assailants had arrived in had toppled soon after the shooting resulting in the arrested suspect sustaining injuries. He had subsequently gained admission to the Urgasmanhandiya Hospital stating that he was the victim of a road accident.
However, a team of officers from the Uragasmanhandiya Police arrested the suspect at the hospital yesterday.
Police Spokesman Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruwan Gunasekara said that police recovered a T56 magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition, a face mask and a pair of gloves from a travelling bag the suspect had in his possession.
Police said the suspect, also a resident of the Uragasmanhandiya area, was the rider of the motorbike. The suspect who carried out the shooting has been identified but is currently on the run.
Four special police teams from the Elpitiya Police Division have been deployed to arrest the second suspect, police added.
The motive for the killing is yet to be established.