Three-wheeler driver shot dead in brazen daylight killing at Dematagoda

A three-wheeler driver was shot dead in a brazen afternoon shooting beneath the Dematagoda Black Bridge yesterday (17), police said.

The investigators suspected that killing may be linked to notorious underworld figure Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran, widely known as ‘Kanjipani Imran’ operating from overseas.

The victim, a 50-year-old resident of Udugama, Galle, was killed with a pistol, according to Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler.

The victim was rushed to hospital following the incident. However, police later confirmed that the three-wheeler driver had succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Preliminary inquiries have revealed that the deceased had previously served in the Army.

According to police, the gunman is believed to have been travelling in the rear seat of the three-wheeler before opening fire on the driver.

Police suspected that the shooting was carried out by a hireling of Kanjipani Imran – a notorious underworld figure and drug kingpin operating from out of the country.

Police said that weapons and explosives had been supplied by Kanjipani Imran for the recent bomb incident at Dehiwala, where two children were killed in a grenade attack.

According to investigators, the weapons and explosives were supplied to another underworld figure known as ‘Kosmalli’ for the Dehiwala attack. Imran had also supplied narcotics to Kosmalli’s narcotic network, police said.

Further investigations are being conducted by police.