Maravi

Cops hunt villager for murdering neighbourhood watch officers

Cops hunt villager for murdering neighbourhood watch officers
Written by Justin Katilungu in Kabwe
Saturday, September 26, 2009 5:58:16 PM

POLICE in Keembe have launched a manhunt to track down a villager who is alleged to have murdered two neighbourhood watch officers early this week. The villager is believed to have overpowered the two officers as they tried to apprehend him for the offence of arson.

Central Province Police commanding officer Simon Mpande told journalists in Kabwe yesterday that the two murdered officers were Ernest Mutampuka 39, and Johnsen Phiri 38 both of Shiala village in Keembe.

Mpande explained that the police received a report of arson on September 13 and investigations indicated that the culprit responsible was from Kakinka village.

"Two neighbourhood watch officers were then asked to trace the suspect and report to the police so that a formal arrest could be effected. These two officers went using bicycles as police waited for a feedback but nothing was forthcoming," he said.

Mpande said that on Tuesday this week, police got reports of smells emanating from a nearby well in Kakinka village and they quickly contacted Chibombo fire brigade officers to countercheck.

"The fire brigade officers retrieved from this well two decomposing bodies which were later identified as for the two neighbourhood watch officers. A pathologist was called on to conduct a post-mortem and the two would be buried today (yesterday)," he said.

Mpande said that the police would not relent until it tracked down the dangerous villager who murdered the two officers.

Mpande appealed to the villagers to remain cooperative with the police in their efforts to track the criminal.

In another incident, a Chisamba man aged 43 was run over by a goods train on Tuesday this week. Mpande said Texon Sikana 43, of Chikonkomene village in Chisamba was sleeping on the railway line when he met his fate.

Labels: MURDER, SIMON MPANDE

posted by MrK @ 4:58 PM