A three-member gang yesterday gunned down two policemen who tried to search the vehicle they were travelling in. The victims are PCs Wimalaweera (27591) and Jayathilake (33920)
The policemen had stopped a three wheeler, SSP Ratnapura Sarath Perera said, and started conducting a check when they came under fire.
The gang had used a T-56 assault rifle, he said.
The trishaw driver who fled the scene later surrendered to the police. According to his statement to the police, the incident had occurred around 10.30 P.M. on Tuesday. Three persons had hired his three wheeler claiming that they wanted to go to Veddagala. On their way the suspects had told him that they were transporting ganja and threatened him not to stop if challenged by the police.
When they reached Manana, the two policemen had signalled for him to stop. He had obeyed the order despite the threat. When the search began, the gang had open fire killing the policemen instantaneously.
Fearing for his life, the driver had run away. The suspects taken the vehicle and abandoned it on the Kalawana-Matugama road.
