Three injured in bus shooting

Rafik Jalaldeen

A gunman's indiscriminate firing inside a Colombo bound bus in Anuradhapura injured three passengers yesterday morning.

The gunman fled the area after robbing the passengers.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said the suspect got into the private bus plying from Anuradhapura to Colombo early last morning and opened fire at passengers.

"Two women and a man sustained injuries due to the gun fire and were being treated at the Anuradhapura hospital", he added.

The gunman hiding his T56 rifle inside a bag boarded the bus from the rear.

After a while, he threatened the driver and conductor and robbed a chain and Rs.10,000 cash from passengers at gunpoint.

SSP Gunaskera noted that the same gunman might have been involved in several robberies that took place in the area. "Several fuel stations were robbed by a suspect in the same manner in the Galgamuwa and Anuradhapura areas.

We suspect the same gunman to have carried out the robberies", he added. Anuradhapura police are investigating.