Three herdsmen dead, three injured in Buttala shooting incident

Rafik Jalaldeen

Three herdsmen were shot dead and three others shot and injured by a group of unidentified gunmen at the Sadatissagama jungle patch in Buttala on Sunday evening.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said herdsmen who had gone to graze their cattle were attacked by a group of gunmen hiding in the jungle patch of Sadatissagama around 7.00pm.

He said three herdsmen were gunned down and three others injured had been treated at the Moneragala Hospital.

“Another herdsman in the group is reported missing. All herdsmen were residents of the same area,” he added.

Security was strengthened and Police and Army have launched a search operation in the area. “Police are investigating to ascertain whether the gunmen were LTTE cadres or gangsters operating in the area,” he added.