Notorious criminal and drug dealer Mohammed Azmir, alias ‘Mamazini’, was shot dead by police commandos, in the early hours of yesterday, when he allegedly tried to strangle, with his handcuffs, the driver of the vehicle carrying him to a hideout at Cinnamon Gardens to recover an arms cache following his arrest in Maligwatte.

Commandant of the STF DIG R. W. M. C. Ranawana said that Azmir had been a large scale drug dealer with two warrants for his arrest.

He had threatened to kill anyone providing information to police about his movements, the DIG said.

A large contingent of STF personnel surrounded the area before entering the criminal’s hideout where they recovered a firearm and a hand grenade.

After his arrest the criminal had said that there were some firearms hidden in a hideout at Cinnamon Gardens and while he was being taken there he had attempted to strangle the driver, causing injuries to him.

The STF driver is receiving treatment at the National Hospital. (by Norman Palihawadana)

Source: The Islands (Sri Lanka)