A sword in the van driven by the 17-year-old Jaffna student who was shot dead after driving ignoring orders.

A 17-year-old youth has died after police opened fire on a suspicious van that failed to stop when ordered by police in the Allapiddy area of the Kayts Police Division in Jaffna yesterday (10) morning.

The incident was reported around 1:15 AM near the Allapiddy junction, where police signaled a suspicious 'High Ace' type van to stop, but the driver disregarded the order and sped towards Mandaitivu.

At that moment, officers immediately informed the Kayts Headquarters Chief Police Inspector, who was returning towards Allapiddy after conducting checks at the Mandaitivu roadblock. His jeep then attempted to block the road to stop the fleeing van.

However, when the van attempted to evade the police jeep and run over the police officers on duty, the police initially fired into the air in self-defense and to stop the vehicle. As the vehicle continued to drive without stopping, shots were fired at the vehicle.

The 17-year-old youth, Albino Arul Payas, a resident of Vaddukkodai, Sittankeni area, who was driving the van, sustained serious injuries when a bullet hit his forehead and penetrated his brain. He died after being admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Kayts Magistrate Mrs. Nalini Subaskaran visited the scene and conducted the magisterial inquiry. The post-mortem examination of the deceased youth was performed by Judicial Medical Officer M. Mayurathan at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

It is reported that during the police inspection of the vehicle, the rear seats were found to have been removed, and a sword, cow dung, ropes, and a small quantity of cannabis were found inside. Police suspect that this group had come to steal cattle in the area.

At the time of the incident, two other individuals were in the van. These suspects, residents of Vaddukkodai and Nallur areas, have been arrested and ordered to be remanded until the 24th by the Urkavathurai (Kayts) court.

Under the instructions of Assistant Superintendent of Police Dilruk, who is in charge of the five Jaffna divisions, Kayts Police and the Jaffna Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau are jointly conducting further investigations into the incident.