A suspect who was under police custody in relation to the drive-by shooting in Thalduwa, Avissawella in which two people were killed last month, has died allegedly during an attempt to escape.

Hambantota Police had arrested the suspect and handed him over to the Avissawella Police, and he was detained under 03-day detention orders for further interrogations.

However, when the police officers went to the Avissawella area today (15) along with the suspect in search of evidence related to the case based on the statements made by the suspect, he had attempted to escape.

The suspect had reportedly tried to strangle one of the police officers by using the handcuffs placed on his hands, however, the other police officers had tried to prevent it, whereupon the suspect was critically injured.

The suspect, who sustained critical injuries during the incident, was subsequently taken to the Avissawella Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon admission, Ada Derana reporter said.

The police officer who was injured during the incident is also in critical condition, according to hospital sources.

In the late hours of September 20, two assailants on a motorcycle had opened fire at four individuals travelling in a three-wheeler, killing two people and critically injuring the other two, in Thalduwa.

 Four persons were travelling in a three-wheeler from Avissawella towards Kegalle when they were targeted by the two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle near the Gurupasgoda Bend in Ihala Thalduwa area in the Avissawella police division.

The assailants had reportedly used a T-56 assault rifle in the shooting before immediately fleeing the scene of the crime. 

The four victims were rushed to the Avissawella Hospital, however, two of them, a 27-year-old and a 36-year-old, had succumbed to injuries.