(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –A suspect, who had stolen a van and was fleeing a military roadblock, was fatally injured after army opened fire at the vehicle when he failed to heed orders to stop at the roadblock in Wadduwa last night.
The suspect succumbed to his injuries after he was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.
The owner of the vehicle had complained to the Mattegoda Police his vehicle had been stolen in the Kirigampamunuwa area in Mattegoda. The owner had tracked down the movements of the van with the assistance of a GPS tracker.
Accordingly, four police officers have chased the van on two motorcycles after Mattegoda Police notified the Anguruwatota police.
Army officers at the Wadduwa roadblock have signaled the van to stop after they were informed that the vehicle had been stolen from Mattegoda. However, the driver ignoring the order had continued towards Panadura even after knocking down and injuring two army officers at the roadblock.
Army officers had chased the vehicle and the officers of the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit had blocked the van at Pinwatta junction in Panadura. The officers had shot at the two suspects when they abandoned the van and fled the scene.
One of the suspects who was injured in the shooting died after he was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. The other suspect, a resident of Anuradhapura was arrested while hiding in the Pinwatte area in Panadura. The deceased suspect was a resident of Balangoda.
