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CID to probe attack on journo Chamuditha’s house

27 Apr 2022

  • Decision taken by Kesbewa Magistrate 
BY Dinitha Rathnayake The Kesbewa Magistrate has handed over the case regarding the attack on electronic media journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama’s residence to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Speaking to The Morning, Samarawickrama said that while this was suggested by his lawyer, the Kesbewa Magistrate had decided to hand over the investigation to the CID if the Police could not arrest any of the suspects. “The Police were unable to arrest any suspects. They informed the Court that they are unable to find the suspects, since the number plates of the vehicles in which the attackers arrived were not clear. However, I am happy about the decision,” stated Samarawickrama. Samarawickrama appeared before the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court on 25 March related to the motion he filed over his protection, after four unidentified individuals attacked his residence in Piliyandala on 14 February. It was the second time he appeared in court after the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court issued an order directing the Victims Protection Division of the Police to provide sufficient security to Samarawickrama on 18 February. Samarawickrama said earlier that he is not satisfied with the Police’s investigation, as no one had been arrested in relation to the incident so far.  “It is almost three months now. I really feel that this would also end up like all the other unsolved cases pertaining to attacks on journalists,” he had said. “Most of these cases had no end when it came to the Police’s investigations. No one was arrested. I was not killed, fortunately, but I was attacked by unidentified individuals. Who are these people? I have a right to know,” he stated.  According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 13 journalists were killed from 2005-2015, whereas others were threatened, abducted, and tortured, and these cases are yet to be solved. Meanwhile, Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa, speaking to The Morning earlier, said that the Police have deployed several teams to check the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the roads in the area and telephone towers. The suspects behind the attack are yet to be identified. “CCTV footage was sent to the Moratuwa University to identify the van and the motorcycle in which the attackers are believed to have arrived. It is still in this process.” The attackers had entered the housing complex where Samarawickrama lives and while one of the four attackers had been holding the security guard at gunpoint, the other three had pelted stones at Samarawickrama’s house and had also thrown excrement at his house. The group of unidentified attackers had arrived wearing helmets and face coverings.  


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