By Norman Palihawadana and Kalinga Weerakkody
Two members of a loot gang were killed and another injured when the hand grenade they were about to hurl at a team of police officers from Kadawatha while following them exploded in their hands at Bangalawatte, Kadawatha on Monday night, Kadawatha police said.

SI Skanda Kumar who received information from some residents in the area of the three suspicious persons had sent a special police team of four officers to the said area.

On their attempt to arrest the suspects one of the main suspects identified as Dilruk Bandara (28), an army deserter, had attempted to hurl a grenade at the officers which immediately exploded killing him and critically injuring one of his associates identified as Chamara Dilshan (23) who succumbed to his injuries on admission to hospital. Police recovered one grenade and a Rambo type knife from the suspect’s possession.

Three police officers injured in the incident along with the injured member of the gang had been admitted to Ragama hospital.

Five civilians had also been injured following the blast.

The police later arrested the fourth suspect who had been in hiding in the vicinity.

The police said that the condition of the three police officers identified as Chandrasekara (20536), Kumarasinghe (14751) and Munasinghe (10322) was somewhat critical.

The detection was made by OIC (Crimes) Kadawatha police N. V. Lawrence under the supervision of OIC A. S. Nalaka.