Police in Luwingu district of the Northern Province fought a running battle with angry mob of Cope village in chief Chipalo area over a suspected witchcraft practice in the area.
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Incident which reportedly happened on Wednesday afternoon saw several police officers running away from the angry residents who demanded an instance justice of a man they accused of practicing witchcraft in the village.
Police in their riot gear had a rude shock when they met their match with uncompromising villagers who stood their ground to kill the aged man they suspected of practicing witchcraft.
They accused the man to be behind the recent death of four members of the same family who died by hanging themselves on different occasions.
The mob alleged that each time the old man comes from kashikishi village in Chienge district in Luapula province, a members of the same family dies by hanging.
The latest is a 27 year old man who was discovered hanging in a kitchen on Tuesday last week after missing for three days.
It was after burying members of the family met to discuss who was behind the deaths, according to some family members said, the man was interrogated after which he confessed that he was behind the killings.
After confessing , the mob descended on him attacking and assaulting him with stones and sticks in a bid to kill him.
It was at this point when alert police moved to the victim’s rescue after a tip off from concerned members of the public that, that heavy resistance from the community before they were chased away despite them firing canisters.
Police in an effort to scare the mob, fired over 15 canisters in an incident which took over two hours and disrupted operations of government department and the private sectors in the area.
The hapless officers had to call for reinforcement from Kasama before they managed to contend the situation.
The suspected wizard was rushed to Kasama general hospital for specialized treatment. However the hospital authorities described the condition as stable. Efforts to get a comment from Northern Province police commissioner failed.
But Luwingu district commissioner Patrick Chanda confirmed the incident and condemned the community for attacking the police officers saying the practiced should be entertained. Mr. Chanda said people should not take the law in their own hands seek attention from the law enforcers each they are aggrieved.
And Police source said they have arrested over 7 people for riotous behaviour they will soon appear before the subordinate court.
ati It was after burying members of the family met to discuss who was behind the deaths,
chizungu ba LT
Luapula and Northern province. Seriously you guys need to call nervous to pray for your provinces.
Ati, “The hapless officers had to call for reinforcement from Kasama before they managed to contend the situation.” Zinglish is really taking root…!
Ati: ‘But Luwingu district commissioner Patrick Chanda confirmed the incident and condemned the community for attacking the police officers saying the practiced should be entertained. Mr. Chanda said people should not take the law in their own hands seek attention from the law enforcers each they are aggrieved.’
Do LT really have news editors?
I doubt my brother. of late they keep giving us stories in Zamglish as if they think we will understand this new grammar. No teacher of mine ever taught me this.
plz don’t be in a hurry to post
articles which are not edited, it makes bad reading and distort intended meaning