Three cops interdicted over Angulana shooting; concerns raised if cops were drunk at the time

In addition, Sri Lanka Police is to report facts to the The Moratuwa Magistrate's Court on Monday with regard to the shooting dead of a 39 year old three-wheeler in Angulana.

Sri Lanka Police also launched a disciplinary inquiry against the officers present at the time of the shooting and the report was submitted today, said Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakooon.

During an inspection carried out by police at a road block in the Lunawa area of Angulana on Saturday(11), an argument broke out between the police and a group of people who arrived in a three wheeler.

The Police had opened fire at a 39-year-old man who died after being admitted to the Kalubowila hospital.

Amith Karunaratne, a father of four, was shot dead following a scuffle between a police officer while travelling with his son and brother in a three wheeler.

It was unclear whether the police officers suspected him of trafficking narcotics.

"They put their hands into my brother's pockets. My brother then said that we were not trafficking narcotics. It was then that they opened fire him," the victim's brother who witnessed the incident said.

He claimed that the police officers were drunk at the time of the incident.

It was also reported on Saturday, a police officer had opened fire at the victim after he had hurled a stone at the police officer.

However, police spokesman Jaliya Senaratne told reporters it cannot be confirmed as a test has not been carried out to determine whether they were drunk.

He added that the defence secretary had instructed the Acting Police Chief and the Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon to probe whether the policemen had neglected their duties.

"After a report is received, disciplinary action will be taken if they had displayed nondisciplinary conduct," the spokesman said.

The Senior DIG of the Western Province  visited the victim's family and paid his condolences on behalf of the police.

"If a mistake has been committed, we will not conceal this or try to save them," he said.

Tennakoon added that drug racketeers may try to capitalize on the incident and urge villagers to attack the police station, and urged the victim's family to avoid such activities.

"We will punish the wrongdoers and do the needful," the Senior DIG added. "What had taken place shouldn't have happened".