An Army officer reportedly engaged in a robbery mission was killed in a shootout at a guard point between Kantale and Mollipotana, in the wee hours of yesterday in his attempt to forcibly take away a weapon of a Homeguard manning the check point, Police said yesterday. Second Lt Mangala Ratnasiri who came in a van along with several other Army colleagues to snatch the gun of a Homeguard manning the 92 Post checkpoint was killed on the spot as the Homeguard fired at them, Police added.
One Homeguard manning the checkpoint was also injured in the incident. He was later admitted to the Kurunegala hospital, Police said.
According to Kantale ASP Deshabandu Tennekoon another Army Officer who had accompanied the deceased officer was arrested along with the weapon and the vehicle last afternoon in Kantale.
Police are conducting investigations as to whether some of the others were also engaged in the mission, ASP Tennekoon added.
He said investigations have revealed that these two Army officers had come in a van robbed from another area to snatch a gun from a Homeguard to complete their mission.
Military Spokesman Colonel Sumedha Perera told the Daily News that the Army officer killed in the incident was recommended by his Regimental commander for discharge from the Army in connection with a case filed against him.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/09/14/sec02.html)
