Three’s a crowd, Johnny-come-lately eliminates rival in gruesome killing

CID investigations into the killing of a couple at a birthday party held in a house in Thonikal, Vavuniya, has revealed that it was caused by a jilted lover.

According to Police, S. Suganthan, an invitee to the party hosted by one Suresh, was having an affair with a female Grama Niladhari Officer (GNO) of a nearby village, who, in turn, had started a second affair with a another man.

The GNOs new ‘lover’ had hired a team of assassins to kill Suganthan.

The assassins, armed with swords, had arrived at Suresh’s house on motorcycles, at dawn on Sunday, July 23, and entered the house shouting out the name of someone else to mislead the guests within, when Fathima Saseema, an invitee from Omanthai, had seen them and shouted out in fear. The assassins had hacked her to death, to prevent her spreading further alarm.

On identifying Suganthan, the assassins had attacked him with their swords and set fire to his body.

Although nine persons carried out this attack, Police have to date have been able to arrest only five of them, including the mastermind, while being on the lookout for the other four.

The five suspects in Police custody have been detained for further questioning, on the authorisation of Vavuniya Magistrate Subhajini Devarasa.

Three motorcycles and five swords used for and in the attack respectively, have also been taken into Police custody.

Fathima Saseema died instantly, while Suganthan succumbed to his injuries and burns while undergoing treatment at the Vavuniya General Hospital. Nine other invitees who sustained injuries in the incident, are being treated at the Vavuniya General Hospital.

Further investigations are being carried out by the Vavuniya Police and the CID.