Former Kapuva (shaman)shoots Kirivehera viharadhipathi to take revenge for dismissing him from his job ... now absconding

Former Kapuva (shaman)shoots Kirivehera viharadhipathi to take revenge for dismissing him from his job ... now absconding

It has now been revealed from ongoing investigations that the incident of shooting Kataragama Kirivehera Raja Maha viharadhipathi Kobawaka Dhamminda thero has been committed by former chief kapuva of Mahasen Devala Asela Bandara.

The suspect has by now fled his village and a police team had checked the kapuva's home yesterday (13) on which occasion implements used in the shooting were found there while the red coloured

vehicle in which they supposed to have come was found parked opposite the said kapuva's house. A former army soldier understood to have got involved in the shooting incident was taken into custody on suspicion yesterday (13).

Information was revealed that a brother of the kapuva had accompanied the former kapuva of Kataragama Mahasen Devala with this army soldier. This former kapuva has fled the village with his brother, police say. Guardiaship of Mahasen devalaya has been transferred to Kirivehera Nayaka thero about an year ago under a court decision and as a a kapuva has been newly appointed, the former kapuva who was ejected has lost his bread and butter had entertained a revengeful attitude towards the viharadhipathi and this shooting may have been the root cause for it, it is suspected. 

When the viharadhipathi has been the target of the shooting, the thero who was closeby too was injured in the shooting and the three suspects had beat a retreat immediately afterwards in a jeep, though officers of the guard post at the vihara premises were able to open fire; however since devotees were moving around the place they had avoided doing so thinking of the loss of the life of those devotees, it is reported.

The said viharadhipathi thero as a principle had been attending to religious observances at Kirivehera every night as a custom and the perpetrators were aware that the thero would be engaged in such procedures that night around ten forty five as usual and had been ambushing him and thus opened fire. The injured thero was first admitted to Katharagama hospital and transferred to Hambanthota hospital for further treatment and since the shots had entered his abdomen region, it is reported that he is in a serious condition. Sobhitha thero who was in his company had sustained injury to one of his legs. Police say that there are seven gun shot marks near the wall close to the flight of steps where the assailants had opened fire and three empty bullet shells had been found fallen on the ground.