Suspect killed when police officer’s pistol discharged during raid in Neluwa

One person was killed when a firearm of a police officer had discharged during a raid in a house in Neluwa,  Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.

He said a group of Neluwa police officers raided a house in Medagama, following a tip-off that a group of people were engaged in drug trafficking in an abandoned house.

One of the men at the house reportedly tried to snatched a pistol of a police officer when the officers tried to arrest them. Then the pistol of an officer had discharged automatically causing injuries to the suspect.

SSP Thalduwa said the injured suspect, aged 30 who is a resident of Morawaka had died after admission to the Neluwa Hospital.

The spokesman said three suspects at the scene had fled.

The Senior DIG of the Southern Province has directed a Superintendent of Police to conduct further investigation into the incident.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)