CO882-10 — Page 99

CO882 & CO885 Colonial Office Confidential Prints 理藩院機密印刊 All

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

882 /10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO

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I saw the about 6.0 p.m.

They were going towards the Kadugannawa town.

He eleventh accused. He was armed with a club. He was addressing the crowd. said: "Burn the Moor boutiques in Kadugannawa and destroy them." I understood that the crowd was going to Kadugannawa to do that. I did not see any of the other accused in the crowd. I went home.

Cross-examined: This preaching was on the road. I live 'some three miles from Kadugannawa. I went to (started to) Kadugannawa at 8.0 a.m. During the day I went to Illukwatte. I got back to Kadugannawa at 6.0 p.m. I went along the road where this man was preaching. I found this armed crowd on the road. I was I got a solitary man, unarmed. I had heard of the temper of the Sinhalese crowd. two fathoms near him. I pushed my way through the crowd. Nobody struck me. I did not catch anything besides those words. Nobody tried to prevent me or stop me.

Crown Counsel: In these riots there was property attacked and not people? Witness: Yes.

M. K.A. Abdul Kadir, affd. Tradet, Kadugannawa.

My boutique is almost opposite the mosque. I was in my boutique on the 30th May. By the evening there were large crowds of Sin- halese. Pinto, Peace Officer, advised us to get into our houses. We did so, at about 6.0 p.m. I remained in my boutique. And then later I heard my boutique was being broken from outside. It was at 7.0 or 8.0 p.m. I hid inside. The planks were broken and several people came in. I saw the tenth. He came inside my boutique. He had a weapon-a crowbar. He said to loot the boutique, to break the things, and set fire to them. I escaped through the roof and ran away. My goods were taken away, and some destroyed on the road.

Cross-examined: I saw him when he entered my boutique. That was at 8.30. That was the first time I saw him that day. I remained in the boutique, and ran away when it was broken. I closed my boutique at 6.0 p.m. I did not come out of it after that. I was inside my boutique. I was courageous enough to remain there till the planks were broken. After that I ran away. Some other people were also there-Ana Moosa, and another man, who is gone to India. Before this, I have given evidence against a man named Singho Appu. He was acquitted. I was disbelieved. The Magistrate said so.

Re-examined by Crown Counsel: I had three kerosine oil lamps in my boutique, and by the light I could identify the accused. There is no ill-feeling between him and me.

Ahamadu Saleem, affd.

I was in my boutique on the 30th May.

I know Trader, Kadugannawa. Moona Kana's boutique. It is less than half a mile from mine. I saw the fifth accused on the 30th May at 3.30 p.m. in front of my boutique with a crowd of about 150 Sinhalese. They were armed. The fifth brought carts. In them there were weapons, such as crowbars, axes, pickaxes, etc. He took them and put inside his own boutique. It is close by. I did not see any other accused at that time. I saw the attack on Moona Kana's boutique on that day by a crowd of Sinhalese. They were armed. That was about 6.0 or 6.30. In that crowd I did not see any of these people. Then my boutique was attacked. I was in my boutique at the time. They broke into it and stole my goods. In that cart I saw the fifth accused, He is the only man out of these I saw at the time. He had a crowbar. He entered my boutique. I saw the first accused at 4.0 p.m. in the crowd. I saw the second also at the same time. The third also between 4.30 and 5.0. Seventh also at about 4.30. I saw the eighth and ninth also about the same time-between 4.30 and 5.0. Tenth also at the same time. I did not see the eleventh accused.

Cross-examined: I saw the first accused on the road. I got near him. I did not see whether he was drunk. He asked people to break the mosque. I was close by

when he said that.

Counsel for defence: There were hundreds of Sinhalese people armed, and yet you say you were standing there?

Witness: At that time there was no disturbance. It began later.

Packir Mohamed Carim, affd.

Trader, Kadugannawa. On the 30th May there were big crowds in Kadugan- I saw the ninth accused at about 6 p.m. He came from the direction of the road in front of my house. He came with eight or nine Sinhalese people and joined

nawa.

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the crowd at Kadugannawa. I know the tenth accused. I saw him that day at 6.0 p.m. He came from the Kegalle direction. He came with the Angoda Arachchi (seventh). They were accompanied by a crowd of Sinhalese. They also joined

the crowd.

Cross-examined; I met the tenth accused at the junction of the Colombo- He had a Gampola road. I met him only once that day. He was unarmed. flower. That is all I saw. I saw the ninth accused too, but he had no weapons. I did not see him do anything.

Meera Mohideen, affd.

Trader at Kadugannawa. I have a boutique there. It was broken on the 30th May, at 6.45 p.m. An armed crowd of Sinhalese broke it. I saw the fourth, fifth, and second accused among that crowd. They came into my boutique and looted it.

Cross-examined: I saw the second accused at 4.30 in front of my boutique, going along the road and stop there. He did nothing at that time. Ana Madar, affd.

I am baker in P. Kadir's boutique at Kadugannawa. I was in the boutique The accused, with some other people, was when it was broken into at about 6.30. seen by me.

Cross-examined: When I saw him the third accused was in front of my bouti- que in the crowd. One plank of my boutique was opened, and later it was closed

too, and I was looking through the small openings between the planks.

Hana Ana Kuna Mohideen Kutty, affd.

I am boutique keeper in Kadugannawa. My boutique was broken on the 30th May, at about 7.0 p.m. The fourth accused was in the crowd. He asked the people to break the boutique and get into it.

Cross-examined: He said so in Sinhalese. I know little Sinhalese. He said: "Make tamai, kadapan." I was inside. I saw through the space between the planks.

Seyadu Mohamadu, affd.

I have a boutique at Kadugannawa. It was broken into and looted on the 30th May, at 8.30. The fifth accused was in the crowd that attacked my boutique. I know the eighth accused. I saw him that day at about 3.0 p.m., near the railway goods shed along the road. There were about fifteen or twenty Sinhalese men with him. They were not armed at that time. That was the only time I saw him that day.

He

Cross-examined: I saw the fifth accused break my boutique and enter it. came with other people. I can identify him only. When the people came inside I ran away. Next day I went to Colombo by the 12.0 noon train. I live near the boutique of Omeru Lebbe. I did not know whether he left his goods in charge of the fifth accused.

Punchi Ukkuwa, vidane, affd.

I am vidane Duraya of Kadugannawa. Crowds of people came there on the 30th May. There were I and Peace Officer Pinto strolling the streets that day. My house is by the Ambalama, which is a little beyond the mosque on the road. I know the seventh accused. I saw him come at about 6.0 from the Kegalle side. He brought about 1,000 Sinhalese. The eleventh accused was with him. Both of them came with the crowd. I noticed sticks, etc., with them. They cried: "Sadhu.” They did not use to do that when they came for the fair. They said they were coming to the Maligawa. They came towards Kandy, and, having come as far as the Ambalama, went back to Kadugannawa. Eleventh wanted to address the crowd. I told him not to make a noise and go away. They went to Kadugannawa. The eleventh accused asked me: "Who are you!" I said: "I am vidane." Then he asked me to take care about what I don't know. I saw the eighth accused that day. It was at 3.30. He was in a shop with some people-neighbours of the village.

Cross-examined: I saw the first accused at 3.0 p.m. on that day. He was drunk. I heard the eleventh accused actually make a speech. He spoke of a story about-a Vedda trying to catch. Then I told them to go. They went on. I saw the eighth accused getting out of the Rum Fish Restaurant. He was going towards his house. He did nothing at that time.

That was about 3.30.

Prosecution closed.

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