BAU: A man from Balai Ringin was hospitalised with a shotgun wound to the head he sustained while with several friends here late yesterday afternoon.

The 36-year-old was said to have arrived here in a lorry with his friends to collect raw pepper when the incident happened around 4pm.

His friends were said to have rushed him to Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching following the incident in which two shotgun pellets were lodged in his head, which resulted in the victim being admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Sources said the victim and his friends were carrying quite a large amount of cash with them at the time of the incident, but were unlikely to be victims of an attempted robbery.

It was unclear who discharged the shot and whether or not it was intentionally aimed at the friends or merely a stray shot.

Attempts to contact the district police chief for confirmation were unsuccessful.