Apr 22, Colombo: Sri Lanka Army had opened fire on a group of sand smugglers in a tractor fleeing a checkpoint in the Palavi area in the Chavakachcheri Police Division in Jaffna this morning (22), Chavakachcheri Police said.

The sand smugglers were traveling in a tractor loaded with sand from the Palavi area when the Army had ordered to stop the tractor at the checkpoint, but the tractor. The troops had fired at the tractor when it continued without stopping.

The wheels of the tractor had been shot at and three suspects had left the tractor and fled on foot. The Army took steps to hand over the tractor to the Chavakachcheri Police.

The suspects had fled the area and investigations are underway to locate and arrest them.