One civilian, policeman killed in Pottuvil

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 July 2005, 06:08 GMT]
A civilian was killed when the Police opened fire after an unidentified gunman shot and killed a Police constable in Pottuvil town around 11.00 p.m. on Thursday. The civilian victim, identified as Mr. Kanagasabai Ranjithkumar, is a 21 year old Tamil youth from Kundumadu.

The constable killed by the gunman riding a motorbike was identified as Mr. M. Veerasingha, 37, attached to Pottuvil Police.

Mr. Ranjithkumar was killed when the policemen who rushed to the crime scene from a nearby location opened fire, according to civilian sources.

The incident took place near Bank of Ceylon building on Pottuvil Main Road.

Civilian sources said that the gunman who was riding a motorbike, stopped the bike and pulled out a handgun to shoot the police constable.

However, the Police claimed that the civilian was killed by the attacker, who used a T-56 rifle.

The body of the civilian was handed over to the mortuary of the Pottuvil Hospital for post-mortem examination, Police sources said.

Pottuvil Police Officer In-Charge (OIC) Mr. Sooriyarachi, is conducting investigation into the killings.

Pottuvil is located in Amparai district.

Two persons, one policeman and a civilian, were killed and four soldiers and two civilians were wounded in 3 different shooting incidents in Amparai district on Thursday.