Attempted escape bid fails

A prison guard fired a shot at a drug peddler who attempted to escape from custody when he was being brought to the Attanagalle Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning.

The suspect, who was in remand custody on charges of drug possession, was brought to the court for the case hearing.

The prison guard, who was escorting the suspect back to the prison bus, had fired at the suspect when he tried to escape.

The suspect was hospitalised with bullet injuries sustained on his hand. Meanwhile a prison guard who was also injured when the bullet grazed through his shoulder was also admitted to the hospital.

Both the suspect and the prison guard were undergoing treatment at the Wathupitiwala Hospital.