Two injured when STF open fire at cab attempting to evade arrest

• The cab had eluded the officers and according to them, the driver of the cab had attempted to run over them

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The Special Task Force (STF) opened fire at a cab for disobeying their orders to stop the vehicle at Point Pedro in Jaffna leaving two persons injured yesterday, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.   

The incident occurred near the checkpoint at Point Pedro in Jaffna, which is operated by the STF personnel in order to protect natural sand mines and to prevent illegal sand mining in the area.   
“The STF officers had ordered a cab which was moving towards the checkpoint to stop the vehicle. However, the cab had eluded the officers and according to them, the driver of the cab had attempted to run over them,” he said.   
“Therefore, the STF personnel were compelled to use force in terms of the provisions of the Penal Code. Accordingly, they had opened fire on the vehicle.  '

However, the cab had travelled without stopping despite the STF opening fire on the vehicle. Later, it was revealed that two individuals had been admitted to the Point Pedro hospital with gunshot injuries,” he added.   
The injured are 13 and 26 years of age. The Point Pedro police are conducting further investigations into the incident and operations are underway in search of the cab.