Four police officers were shot dead when an officer assigned to the Thirukkovil Police station opened fire at a group of officers on duty at the police station.
The injured included the OIC of the Thirukkovil police station and they were all admitted to the Thirukkovil and Akkarepattu hospitals.
The shooting was carried out by a police sergeant who later surrendered to the Ethimale Police station with two T-56 assault rifles and 19 rounds of ammunition after the shooting.
The shooting took place around 10.30 last night. Three persons were killed on the spot while another police constable who was receiving treatment at the Kalmunai Hospital died on admission to the hospital.
The OIC had left the police station on some duty at the time of the shooting.
When the OIC arrived at the police station, the suspect sergeant had also shot at the police jeep in which the OIC had arrived. At that moment, the jeep lost control and crashed into a nearby building, police said.
A Police Sergeant, two constables and a Police constable driver were killed in the shooting while the OIC and two other constables are receiving treatment at the hospitals.
Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the arrested suspect was handed over to the Ampara Police for further investigations.
He said a special team had been appointed to conduct further investigations and to identify the motive of the shooting under the direction of Senior DIG in charge of the Easter Province.