Backhoe Saman’s mother’s killing suspected to be revenge

The faction of alleged underworld figure 'Karandeniye Sudda' is suspected to have provided the gunmen and the firearm to the murder of the mother of alleged gang member 'Backhoe Saman', the police suspect.

The murder is also believed to be a retaliation for the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa, Police added.

Two individuals who arrived on a motorcycle shot at a woman staying in front of a house in the Middeniya-Ulahitiyawa area using a 9mm firearm and fled yesterday evening (12).

The relevant woman, who sustained serious injuries to her chest area from the shooting, succumbed to the injuries after residents took steps to hospitalise her. It is reported that seven gunshot wounds were directed at her body.

'Backhoe Saman', who was arrested in Indonesia along with alleged organised criminal Kehelbaddara Padme and brought to this country, is currently remanded in custody. 'Backhoe Saman' faces allegations over the incident of murdering Aruna Vidanagamage alias 'Middeniye Kajja' and his two children. He also faces allegations of planning the murder of criminal gang leader 'Ganemulla Sanjeewa', who was murdered within the Colombo Magistrate's Court complex last year, and providing shelter to the shooters and individuals who aided and abetted the murder after the killing.

Consequently, the police also uncovered that the Ganemulla Sanjeewa faction prepared plans for some time to launch attacks targeting the relatives of 'Backhoe Saman' and Kehelbaddara Padme. Accordingly, the police suspect that the faction of Karandeniye Sudda, an underworld associate of Ganemulla Sanjeewa, carried out this shooting in revenge for the Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder.

The Walasmulla Magistrate conducted the inquiry at the scene of the shooting this morning (13).

The Middeniya police mentioned that the police recorded statements from residents regarding the incident and deployed two police teams for the investigations.

With this shooting, the number of organised shooting incidents reported so far this year rises to 28, with 18 individuals dead and 11 injured in those incidents.