Woman accidentally shot dead by police during robbery

• A female passenger who had been in the rear seat of a bus had been accidentaly shot by a stray bullet and died after being admitted to the Wathupitiwala Hospital

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

A 29-year-old woman died of gunshot injuries when policemen opened fire at a gang of robbers at Danowita in Gampaha yesterday morning.  Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the woman who was travelling in a bus from Galenbindunuwewa to Colombo was shot accidentally during a shooting by police during a robbery.   

He said policemen had opened fire at a robber gang who came to rob a bar in Danowita town.  

The robbers fled amidst the shooting, despite being injured in the shooting. However, they were arrested later by the police along with the van they had used
to commit the crime. They were hospitalised for treatment under police custody.   The spokesman said a female passenger who had been in the rear seat of a bus had been accidentaly shot by a stray bullet and died after being admitted to the Wathupitiwala Hospital.  

The victim woman was identified as a resident of Kamburugala.