Underworld figure critically wounded in shootout with police at Oruwala

A suspected underworld gang member has been critically injured and hospitalised following an exchange of gunfire with a team of police officers in Oruwala, Athurugiriya.

The Police Spokesman’s Office said that a team of officers from the Police Organised Crimes Division had visited the area to apprehend suspects of a criminal gang this morning (4) and that the suspects had proceeded to open fire at them with a pistol.

The police officers had returned fire in an act of self-defense resulting in injuries to one of the suspects, identified as Asitha alias ‘Banda’, a known member of an organized criminal gang from Bandaragama, police said.

He was apprehended and admitted to the Oruwala Hospital with critical injuries.

The shootout had occurred at Mailagama Road in Athurugiriya, near the Oruwala State Steel Corporation Grounds.