Ranatunga arrested over fatal shooting in Sri Lanka amid political crisis
Colombo, Oct 29: Sri Lanka's Petroleum Minister and cricket legend Arjuna Ranatunga was arrested on Monday for the first violent incident that killed one person during the ongoing political crisis in the country, police said.
The political crises in Sri Lanka took an ugly turn on Sunday when bodyguards of 54-year-old Ranatunga, a loyalist of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, fired live rounds at the supporters of the new premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, leaving one person dead.
One person succumbed to his injuries and two others were hospitalised in the shooting incident and a security personnel was arrested at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) premises on Sunday in Dematagoda following a tense situation.
Ranatunga, captain of Sri Lanka's 1996 cricket World Cup winning side, was arrested on Monday for the incident at his ministry premises when a petroleum worker died due to shooting by his security staff, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.
Ranatunga was the petroleum minister in the ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's government.
The incident took place when the cricketer-turned-politician visited the CPC office, with several petroleum corporation workers objecting to his presence there.
When Ranatunga entered the building the supporters of the new prime minister Rajapaksa took exception to him visiting the office and shouted slogans.
When they were not allowed to move out, Ranatunga's security personnel opened fire which injured three persons, police said. Unconfirmed reports said that two of Ranatunga's security personnel have been arrested.
Ranatunga is a supporter of Wickremesinghe who was sacked by Sirisena. Wickremesinghe holds his sacking was illegal and unconstitutional.
Sri Lanka is facing a political crisis after President Sirisena sacked prime minister Wickremesinghe on Friday, and replaced him with former strongman Rajapaksa.
Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority.
The president's office also announced that with Wickremesinghe's sacking, the Cabinet stands dissolved.
Meanwhile, Rajapaksa on Monday assumed charge as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister.
Rajapaksa assumed the duties in the prime minister's secretariat which was not used by the ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe, officials from his Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) said.
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Muniratna should be expelled from BJP: Dinesh Gundurao
Bengaluru: Karnataka's Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao has demanded the expulsion of BJP MLA Muniratna from the party, urging the BJP to demonstrate its commitment to justice and fairness to the people of Karnataka.
Taking to micro blogging platform, X on Tuesday, Gundurao remarked, “BJP MLA Muniratna’s casteist comments against the Vokkaliga community have been confirmed by the FSL report submitted to the SIT. He not only demeaned the Vokkaliga community but also made derogatory remarks about the women of the community.”
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He further alleged, “It has been established that Muniratna is not only a casteist but also a misogynist. Despite this, the BJP continues to support him, proving yet again its anti-women stance. The BJP’s backing of Muniratna exposes its hypocrisy in claiming ‘Hindus are one.’”
Gundurao also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan, "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao," calling it "ridiculous" in light of the BJP’s alleged support for individuals accused of mistreating women. He urged the BJP to take action and protect the dignity of women and vulnerable communities in the state.
ಒಕ್ಕಲಿಗ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಶಾಸಕ @MunirathnaMLA ಜಾತಿ ನಿಂದನೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದು ಈಗ ಎಸ್ ಐ ಟಿ ಗೆ ದೊರಕಿರುವ ಎಫ್ಎಸ್ಎಲ್ ವರದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಬೀತಾಗಿದೆ. ಮುನಿರತ್ನ ಒಕ್ಕಲಿಗ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಕುರಿತು ಕೀಳಾಗಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿರುವುದಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಆ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಕ್ಕಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ನಾಲಿಗೆ ಹರಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) November 26, 2024
ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಶಾಸಕ ಮುನಿರತ್ನ ಜಾತಿ… pic.twitter.com/th5gIEvFEn
