Friendly fire kills one

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 January 1999, 12:56 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Army soldier, H.M.Laksman Ananda, of the 15 Gajaba division on sentry duty at the forward defence line in the Uyrtharasankulam area South of Mannar island was shot dead by a fellow soldier, Jayalath Aarachchige Vasanthakumara, at the sentry post around 1 am yesterday (January 27), sources in Mannar said.

Vasanthakumara testifying in the inquest held by the District judge of Mannar, said that he woke up from a deep sleep and saw someone standing in his view, who he thought to be an enemy and fired at the figure without a second thought.

"On hearing the fire of my gun, another soldier who was sleeping by my side, woke up and grabbed my gun. Immediately I told him what had happened and surrendered to him handing over my gun", he told the courts.

He was in tears and clad in uniform when he was produced before the judge.

The judge ordered the Police to remand the soldier and to conduct further investigations.

The body of Lakshman Ananda was sent to the Mannar hospital for post-mortem.