* They were demanding the release of a suspect so that they deal with him, but at that time, the police had already sent the suspect to Lilongwe police
* This made the angry community to start vandalising the police unit. Currently, no arrest has been made
By Andrew Mkonda, MANA
Angry villagers from Chisiyo in Lilongwe, mostly motorcycle taxi (Kabaza) operators have vandalised newly-built Chisiyo Police unit and burnt two vehicles that were apprehended by the traffic police few days ago.
Advertisement
Lilongwe Police spokesperson, Inspector Hastings Chigalu has confirmed the incident in an interview, saying the cause of this incident today came after two people were found dead on Saturday, who are suspected to be a kabaza operator and a passenger.
“When this issue was reported to the police, the community members managed to arrest one of the suspects and handed him to the police,” Chigalu said.
“Later, members of the community, most of them Kabaza operators came back demanding the release of the suspect so that they deal with him, but at that time, the police had already sent the suspect to Lilongwe police.
“This made the angry community to start vandalising the police unit,” he said, adding that currently, no any arrest has been made.
Two vehicles set ablaze
The police is thus informing the general public that it is against the law to take the law in their hands.
Meanwhile, police in Karonga have arrested three men for obstructing law enforcement officers during a crackdown on illegal fuel vendors after being being found in possession of 210 litres of liquid petroleum without a license.
The suspects have been identified as Blessings Kaponda, 30, Timothy Kaponda, 39, and Peter Ngwile, 50 and according to Karonga Police Station spokesperson, Sub Inspector Margret Msiska, the incident occurred on Monday 16 around 16h00 during a targeted police operation within Karonga Township.
“Our officers were conducting an operation aimed at apprehending illegal liquid petroleum dealers,” Msiska said. “When they reached the District Agriculture Offices near Petroda Filling Station, one officer arrested Blessings Kaponda and seized 210 litres of liquid petroleum.
“During the arrest, Timothy Kaponda and Ngwile emerged and attempted to forcibly rescue their associate and in their efforts to free Blessings, the two suspects manhandled the officer but other officers intervened and managed to arrest Ngwile on the spot.”
Advertisement
She added that Timothy Kaponda fled the scene but later surrendered himself at Karonga Police Station and the three suspects will appear in court soon to answer charges of possessing liquid petroleum without a license and obstructing police officers while performing their lawful duties.
Blessings and Timothy Kaponda come from Mwakasungula Village, while Peter Ngwile hails from Malema 2 Village both under Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga District.—Reporting from Karonga by George Mponda, MANA
