One person was injured in a shootout between a group of soldiers and another group of security personnel in the Kattachchi forest reserve in Vavuniya, Settikulam Police said.

The soldiers had retaliated when the three-member armed group who opened fire on a group of soldiers on active duty.

The injured person was admitted to the Settikulam Hospital and later transferred to the Vavuniya General Hospital for further treatment.

The other two suspects who were armed had fled and one of them was also injured and the Settikulam Police have launched an investigation to find the fugitives.

Police investigations are underway to ascertain whether the armed group was linked to the timber-smugglers in the forest reserve.