Man takes woman hostage, dies in police shooting

by Norman Palihawadane

A 53-year-old person died when police opened fire in a bid to resolve a dispute at Padiyadora, Mawanella, on Saturday night.Two policemen were injured in the clash and were admitted to the Mawanella Hospital, police said.

A team of policemen who went to Padiyadora to investigate a complaint following a telephone call found that a man, wielding a sword, had taken a woman hostage. When the police surrounded the man, he attacked one of the policemen with the sword. A policeman fired into the air as a warning, yet the man attempted to attack the other policeman.

To save his colleague, another policeman shot at the individual. Police took action to rush the injured and the two policemen to the hospital but the suspect succumbed to his injuries.The two injured police officers are currently receiving treatment at the Mawanella Hospital.