A 20-year-old man was shot and wounded in the Agrahera area of Weeraketiya on Friday morning, and police believe the round was fired by a group that had gone out hunting animals.
Ada Derana reported that the youth was shot in front of his home and that the bullet struck him in the thigh. He was first admitted to Weeraketiya Hospital and later transferred to Tangalle Base Hospital for further treatment.
NewsFirst, citing preliminary investigations, reported that the shot was fired during a hunting expedition by a group of individuals in the area and struck the young man in the leg.
One in custody
Police have taken one person into custody on suspicion of involvement in the shooting, according to NewsFirst. Ada Derana’s account did not refer to an arrest.
Weeraketiya Police are continuing investigations.
Firearms held for hunting are a recurring source of injury in Sri Lanka’s rural south and dry-zone districts. This week, wildlife officers and a group of suspected hunters exchanged gunfire in the Yala area, in a separate incident that drew attention to the prevalence of hunting weapons outside licensed control.
