STF member dies from gunshot wounds

Trying to rag amateur soldier .... constable dies!

A soldier of the Police Special Task Force died as a result of a dialogue that ensued between two
members of this STF camp in Thotapola, Deniyaya on receiving a gun-shot by mistake.

Day before yesterday (25) night the victim and another soldier had been coming into the camp intoxicated. At that time an amateur soldier who was in the 60th
recruitment group had been at the picket of the camp. He had been someone who had undergone combat-training at the 69th STF and was on duty between 8 - 10 in the night.

Later, the two drunk soldiers had walked close up to him and started playing jokes on him and troubled him. The constable had on one occasion asked, "Tell me how to address people in the STF!" After he was given the reply the deceased soldier had grabbed the new recruit's weapon and had asked, "Yakko ....do you know ... do you know how to shoot ... parts of this ..." so saying he had begun to describe part by part. Again he had said, "Now tell what 'head shot' is," so saying the intoxicated soldier had once again roused him. "Yes I know" the other had replied. "Then fire and show me," the constable had ordered again. At that very moment the weapon had fired by mistake and had struck the deceased's chest. As a consequence he had died on the spot.

The victim who died at about 9 day-before-night (25) night from this gun-shot was a 24 year old (82874) resident of Dehiaththakandiya, a Constable named Ratnayaka.

In connection with this incident, the police have taken this officer of the STF into custody and produced him before courts.

Whether this gun-shot was fired by mistake or else it was fired by the other officer intentionally has so far not been clearly revealed.

The other friend who was with him too has been admitted to hospital and what he had said was that he could not remember the incident because he was highly intoxicated. Further, the new recruit had mentioned that the weapon that was in his possession was never kept prepared to fire.

Deniyaya Police have resumed inquiries in this connection.