Four persons arrested over Hungama double murder remanded

The four suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in the brutal murder that took place in Wadigala, Hungama have been remanded until October 22, Ada Derana reporter said.

The order was issued when the group was produced before the Agunukolapelessa Magistrate’s Court today by officers of the Hungama Police.

The main suspect in the case, Saman Kumara, also known as ‘Andupelane Bindu’, along with his brother Dhananjaya Kumara, Kumara’s associate Sanjaya and a woman named Ishani Arunika Weerasekara —who is now considered a key suspect in the case—were all produced in court.

Ishani Arunika Weerasekara, identified as a main conspirator, appeared before Magistrate Erandi Hewawasam yesterday and voluntarily provided eyewitness testimony during the preliminary magistrate’s inquiry, Ada Derana reporter said.

Subsequent police investigations revealed that she was in fact the mastermind behind the murder.

She is reportedly a close associate of the main suspect, Andupelane Bindu. Her husband is currently in remand custody for drug trafficking. Based on the information obtained from her, police uncovered the motive and involvement in the murder, especially following phone analysis and interrogation.

The post-mortem examination was conducted by specialist Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Nanayakkara at the Tangalle Hospital. It revealed that the female victim had been shot from a distance, with gunshot wounds found in multiple locations on her body.

The investigation also found that the victims had been struck with blunt weapons and slashed with sharp objects. The male victim had his head severed using a sharp weapon.

During interrogations, police recovered a firearm suspected to have been used in the shooting of the woman, along with two machetes found at the crime scene, and a third weapon also believed to be linked to the murder.

Further investigations are underway.