Kalutara Additional Magistrate Ms Chandani Dias on Thursday ordered that the passport of Ahmed Bin Mohamed, Imam of the Beruwala Buhari Mosque, be impounded to prevent him leaving the country.

The Magistrate made this order when the case, involving a clash between supporters of Beruwela Buhari Mosque and Masjid Rahumnan Mosque on July 23 in which two people were killed and 9 others seriously injured, was taken up for hearing.

When the case was called on Thursday 132 suspects were brought in three buses from the Kalutara Remand Prison for an identification parade but the identification parade was postponed to August 17 when the Magistrate was informed by the Police that some of the witnesses were still warded in Hospital.

Lawyers appearing for the aggrieved parties told Court that despite four witnesses giving statements to Police against the main suspect Ahmed Bin Mohamed he had still not been arrested. They pleaded that the Court direct the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to prevent the suspect leaving the country.

The Court premises and the town were fully guarded by armed Police and several groups of Muslims belonging to both mosques were seen at several places in the vicinity of the Court.

Investigations are being conducted by a team of policemen headed by SSP Lalith Pathinayake, SP Sarath C Perera and assisted by ASP P.A. Sunderapala, OIC Beruweala CI Kavinda Piyasekera and OIC Crimes IP Jayatissa.