Police commandos gun down one of their cashiered sergeants

The STF has resumed anti-underworld operations, with a pre-dawn raid in Kahatuduwa yesterday (25) resulting in the death of a contract killer linked to the notorious gang led by underworld figure ‘Kos Malli’.

Investigations have revealed that the deceased, a cashiered STF sergeant, identified as Jeevan Chamara Janaka (40) from Dehiwala, had been involved in multiple crimes, including the recent shooting of a man known as ‘Bus Asitha’ near the Dehiwala Railway Station on 18 July.

Expelled from the STF in 2011, over drug use allegations, he had since joined Kos Malli’s criminal syndicate and engaged in various underworld activities. The STF believes the attack on Bus Asitha stemmed from a longstanding feud between Kos Malli and another underworld figure, Badowita Asanka. Asitha is said to be a close relative of drug traffickers linked to Badowita Asanka and Wela Suda, prompting Kos Malli to order the hit.

Acting on intelligence, the STF raided a house in Kahatuduwa, where the suspect opened fire with a T-56 assault rifle, injuring one STF officer. He was seriously injured in the return fire and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.A T-56 weapon and a cache of ammunition were recovered by the STF from the scene after the exchange of fire.

by Hemantha Randunu and Norman Palihawadane