Gamini was leaving on a luxury vehicle parked in the car park in the A’pura town looking at his wristwatch from time to the time.

Suddenly Gamini spotted a handsome young man, a major in the army, whom he respected very much.

Gamini had met Major Anuradha only about two weeks back, unaware that it was a planned meeting.

"Sir, when your getting late I thought you were not coming. I’m coming because of you because tomorrow is Sinhala New Year.

"Gamini, I want you to do a big favour. I will compensate with a good payment."

Major Anuruddha was attached to Manthottam camp in Mannar. A native of Wattegama Major Anuruddha is a father of one child. The Major hired the vehicle driven by Gamini to attend a wedding on April 14 in Kandy for Rs. 8000 paying an advance of Rs. 3000.

At the last moment the Major changed his plans and wanted to go to the camp before going to Kandy.

Gamini agreed and drove his owner’s luxury vehicle worth about Rs. one million. While travelling the major said:

"These roads were all deserted sometime back. I have taken part in three or four attacks against the tigers in this area.

"Most of the officers have gone. Today I am in charge of the camp. So we can enjoy ourselves."

After travelling for a few houre the luxury vehicle reached the Mannar camp. The soldier on duty at the gate saluted the Major and this made Gamini feel a proud man.

The car stopped near Major’s quarters. Gamini was impressed by the soldiers walking into their barracks carrying their weapons.

"This is the first time I have visited an Army camp. Shall I go around and see the camp. The Major okayed his request though it was getting dark. But Gamini was not aware that his life was in danger.

Major Anuruddha was admiring the beauty of the car.

"How much would this car cost" asked the Major.

"Sir around a million. If you are interested in buying a car I will get you one for a lesser amount.

Having discussed about vehicles the Major held Gamini’s hand and took him inside the quarters.

A soldier come running towards the Major. He was the buddy of this officer.

"Rohana this gentleman will spend the night with us. You should look after him and provide him with anything he wanted. We are leaving early morning".

Having taken a wash Gamini was now relaxing in a comfortable chair.

"Prepare a good cup of tea for this gentleman. Today is the last day of the year. So why not enjoy ourselves." He ordered Rohana to bring some bottles of alcohol.

While Rohana was preparing the cup of tea the Major came to the kitchen. "Where is the cup of tea you prepared for that man, give it to me."

The Major took the cup of tea. Rohana knew what was going to happen. Major Anuruddha took out a packet of powder from his pocket and put some into the cup of tea.

"This packet contains ten sleeping tablets. From now onwards we will have to work very carefully," the Major told his buddy. He served the cup of tea to Gamini.

Gamini who was a very tired man after driving from A’pura did not take time to finish the cup of tea. The Major was looking at the reaction of Gamini very carefully.

By now Gamini was feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Sir, I am not feeling well" he said. "Must be due to the tiredness. Good if I can get some sleep."

"That is good Gamini, you can take some rest. Now it is almost seven. We will have a late party. I will call you.

Major Anuruddha took Gamini to a room. Gamini did not known that this was his last sleep.

Rohana came to the quarters with some bottles. Gamini was just asleep while Major was planning the next moves.

The Major took a small bottle from the first aid box in the quarters and fitted a syringe with its contents and injected Gamini with it. The liquid injected is normally used on wounded soldiers as an anaesthesia. Gamini was now lying like a corpse.

The Major meanwhile was enjoying a drink before the final job was done.

"Rohana, you also have a drink" said that Major for whom the life of this innocent man meant nothing. He and Rohana in the meantime had finished the bottle and the time was past midnight.

"Rohana now it is time to finish the job. Get ready with the necessary things."

The Major closed the body with a white cloth. "Now it is your turn. Cut off the neck of this fellow" ordered the Major. Rohana stood motionless.

"Are you not carrying out my orders. Here is the knife. This is very sharp. Cut his neck. He is half dead.

"Sir I can’t do it. I have carried out all your orders very obediently. I can’t do this, Sir." The Major knew that Rohana was not going to do it. Major took the knife and completed the job. The floor of the room was wet with Gamini’s blood.

"Come here you fellow. You did not cerry out my orders. Now go and bring a gallon of petrol and a barrel. Rohana did as ordered. It was a very large barrel.

Major Anuruddha took the knife once again and chopped the head.

"Now cut this fellows legs and arms. We have to finish this job before dawn."

This time Rohana obeyed. The room looked like an abattoir. The parts of Gamini’s body were put into the barrel and set on fire.

By three in the morning the Major and the Buddy completed the mission. They buried the barrel in the compound and cleaned the room.

When the Sinhala New Year dawned Major Anuruddha had completed a well planned job. Now he was the owner of luxury vehicle worth over Rs. One million.

After few days car was taken to Wattegama, the colour and the registered numbers changed. In the next week the Major sold the car to another Major attached to the Boyagane camp for Rs. Two lakhs. This crime was the beginning in the Majors criminal career. Thereafter he continued to commit various types of crimes with the help of some soldiers in the camp.

The family of Gamini meanwhile had complained to the A’pura police about him. But nothing had happened.

The Major and his clan also robbed a house of a wealthy person in Wattegama and brought the valuables to the Mannar camp.

Major Anuruddha and his criminal gang was not so lucky when they committed the last crime on October 10. They were in Kandy once again and had parked the jeep in the army camp. They went to Peradeniya and hired a van to proceed to Wattegama. At a deserted place the Major pointed a revolver at the driver, stopped the vehicle tied his arms and legs and dragged him out of the vehicle.

However the driver managed to get himself freed. He immediatly gave a call to the Wattagama police from a closeby shop.

Wattegama police took prompt action and all police stations were informed about the crime. The police finally seized the vehicle and took the Major and his associates into custody.

Though Major Anuruddha did not divulge anything his friend spilled the beans.

Police officers in the Wattegama police station visited the Mannar camp and searched the quarters. They found six hand bombs some stolen goods, two knivess used to kill and chop Gamini and some parts of Gamini’s body.