Body of youth buried amidst gunfire

Police fired in the air causing pandemonium at the Pinwatta burial ground on Thursday when the body of K. Upul Krishantha Thabrew was brought there for the burial amidst threats by a rival gang not to do so. Krishantha Thabrew and M. Krishantha Cooray were shot dead by police when they attempted to remove a motor cycle on September 25, 2004 from the Pinwatta police post.

At about 5.00 p.m. on Thursday when the body of the deceased was brought to the Pinwatta public cemetery, two youth had come and informed the relatives not to bury the body. The policemen who were waiting on a tip off had immediately pounced on the two but let them escape .Police fired a few shots in the air and the body was buried under police guards.

The policemen could have easily arrested the gang leader "Wasana", who was wanted by police for several cases if they were interested, said the public accusing that some of the policemen were on the payroll of underworld bosses.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/10/04/news/03.asp)