Child injured in accidental discharge of police firearm: SI remanded

By Norman Palihawadane

Thihagoda Police Sub-Inspector, arrested in connection with an accidental discharge of a police firearm, and causing injury to a 15-year-old boy, in Thihagoda, Matara, has been remanded until 02 Nov. Matara Chief Magistrate, Isuru Nethikumara, ordered the suspected sub-inspector to be remanded when the latter was produced before him on Saturday afternoon.

The 57-year-old Sub Inspector admitted in Court his responsibility for the incident.The shooting incident took place at Midellawala, Thihagoda, Matara, at around 4.30 pm Friday during an inspection of a three-wheeler, driven erratically.A team of police officers, attached to the crime branch of Thihagoda Police Station, was returning from an operation when they observed a three-wheeler carrying a group of school students driving recklessly on the road.

Police said when the three-wheeler failed to heed orders to stop, the officers chased and stopped it. During the inspection of the three-wheeler, the firearm of the Sub-Inspector was accidentally discharged, critically injuring the 15-year-old student in the head, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.The injured student, identified as Haresh Hasanka Deshan from Katuwanthuduwa in Nayimbala, Matara, was rushed to the Matara District General Hospital and later transferred to the Teaching Hospital, in Karapitiya, for further treatment.

Hospital sources said the condition of the injured child had slightly improved.Following the incident, a tense situation arose with residents of the area surrounding the Thihagoda Police Station, demanding action against the policeman responsible for the incident. A police jeep was also pelted with stones and damaged.

Senior DIG Southern Province Ajith Rohana rushed to the Thihagoda Police Station to help bring the situation under control.Meanwhile, the child, who was admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital, underwent surgery. The doctors said the surgery was done to stop the bleeding in the child’s head. Hospital sources said he was still receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit.

A team of officials of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission also arrived at the scene of the shooting, carried out an on-site inspection, and recorded statements.A special investigation is being carried out, under the supervision of an SP.