Sri Lanka Army deserter kills self, injures 16

COLOMBO - An army deserter arrested for possessing cannabis set off a grenade inside a police station in central Sri Lanka, killing himself and injuring 16 people Wednesday, a senior police officer said.

Policemen had chased the unnamed suspect when he attempted to escape from the police station in Nuwara Eliya, 160 km northeast of the capital while being questioned by the officers.

“Soon after he was stopped near the guards at the entrance he blasted the grenade, injuring 14 policemen and two civilians,” the officer said.

He said they were inquiring about the negligence of the policemen who failed to examine the suspect before taking him into the police station.