A 22-year-old Buddhist monk died after catching a bullet from a police officer’s gun that misfired as a result of a dispute between two policemen and a motorcyclist.
The monk, Ven Unawatune Seelarathana Thera of Hungama Haathagala Temple, was on his way to an alms-giving when he was accidentally shot at in the Hungama Haathagala area.
Two traffic policemen of the Hungama Police had given chase to the motorcyclist who was riding disobeying a police call to stop.The cyclist had fallen off his bike as a result of the chase.The policemen were grappling to restrain him from running from the scene during which one of the policemen’s gun had misfired and injured the monk passing by, police said.
The police had arrested the motorcyclist.
The monk died while he was being taken to the Angunakolapelessa Hospital with serious injuries. The deceased was due to attend the Pali and Buddhist Studies University commencing today. (20).