17-Year-Old Dies After Police Shooting at Fleeing Van in Kayts

COLOMBO (News 1st): A 17-year-old youth has died after Police opened fire at a van that failed to stop on orders at the Allappiddy junction in Kayts.

Police said officers had signaled the van to stop, but it ignored the command and continued towards Mandathivu.

The Kayts Police OIC’s Patrol Jeep, which was heading towards Allappiddy after conducting roadblock checks on the Mandathivu route, was informed of the incident.

Police said officers in the jeep had attempted to stop the van, but as it continued to flee without stopping, they fired warning shots into the air in an effort to halt the vehicle.

Police added that the driver was injured from the shooting and later succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. The deceased was a 17-year-old resident of Vaddukoddai.

Police also said the rear seats of the van had been removed, and two other suspects who were inside the vehicle have been arrested.

Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by Kayts Police with the assistance of the Jaffna Divisional Crimes Investigation Unit.