A special unit of the Criminal Investigation Department arrested former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha Gajanayaka yesterday, allegedly in connection with the ongoing probe into the recent spate of abductions, extortions and killings.
“We arrested the mastermind behind the spate of abductions, ransom demands and killings this evening,” a top CID official told Daily Mirror last night. He said that the arrest had been made after collecting ‘enough evidence’.
He alleged that investigations had revealed that the former Air Force officer was involved (together with a terrorist group) in the carrying out of these abductions, extortions and killings.
On June 9 a Special CID team had questioned the former Air Force officer and recorded his statement. This had been done after the CID took two eyewitnesses to the Fort Railway Station (from where the two Red Cross workers had been abducted) and also questioned some railway employees.
On Wednesday the CID took into custody another suspect in connection with the multi- million rupee extortion racket targeting Tamil and Muslim businessmen.
Meanwhile, speaking to Daily Mirror last night, Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that this clearly showed the productivity of the ongoing police investigations. “This clearly shows the bona fides of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa led administration,” he added.
This latest development came after UNP Parliamentarian Lakshman Seneviratne charged in Parliament two weeks ago that the former Air Force officer was carrying out the criminal operations from a hotel room in Colombo, and that a non-cabinet minister’s brother was paying the hotel bill.
He also said the former Air Force officer was being provided security by the police and that the government should take full responsibility for it.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/06/22/front/01.asp)
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