A policeman, who attempted to body-search an LTTE pistol gang cadre near Park Road inVavuniya, was critically injured yesterday (27) when the LTTE man shot him with a pistol he was carrying.

The policeman identified as Abeykoon (10156) was rushed to the Vavuniya hospital and later transferred to the Anuradhapura hospital.

The incident took place when a joint police-army search operation was being conducted around 11.30 a.m. in the town.

Police sources said two men were passing the area where the Army and the Police were conducting the operation when the constable stopped the two men passing. One of them had pulled out a pistol, shot the police constable and fled. The other man was however arrested and detained for questioning.

Army and police have started a joint cordon and search operation to apprehend the suspect on the information given by the man arrested.