Commotion in Mchinji over death of suspect
An angry mob in Mchinji on Saturday and Sunday morning brought business at the border town to a standstill as they held running battles with the police following the death of a suspect.
The mob went on rampage after a foiled attempt to torch Mchinji Police Station, smashing windows of some police officers’ and civil servants’ houses and some banks, including National Bank and OIBM buildings.
The mob also looted shops belonging to Chinese nationals and smashed vehicles of some businesspersons.
According to Malawi News Agency (Mana) investigations, the commotion started after 45-year-old Davison Chinkhota died in the hands of police Saturday morning. The man was allegedly beaten up, forcing his relations to descend on the police station to seek an explanation.
“We want the police to explain to us how our brother died. He is not a thief, he was just a suspect. Why did they have to beat him up to his death?
It’s either we bury his remains here at the police or we set the station ablaze,” said a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to Mchinji Police spokesperson Moses Nyirenda, Chinkhota was arrested on Friday night on allegations that he stole a blazer which he sold to a Mchinji Secondary School student.
Nyirenda said Chinkhota attempted to escape during the police’s morning routine of taking suspects outside their cells to allow for the cells to be cleaned.
“We don’t know why he escaped. His case was not even taken to court,” said Nyirenda.
The spokesperson claimed that, before his attempted escape, Chinkhota asked for permission to drink water from a tap, but after he was granted the permission, he started running and jumped over a fence.
“When we saw that he jumped the fence, we fired in the air twice to alert people around the police and we called for help to catch him. People caught him and started beating him up, when we reached him, it was too late as he was heavily beaten,” he said.
Nyirenda said, the deceased was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mchinji District Hospital.
How much is a humani life worth? a blazer? Police brutallity at its best………………………
Well done Mchinji residents. Why are they failing to beat to death the cash gate suspects who stole billions of Kwacha. Abale apolice akusolowera kutizunza. Tiyeni nawoni. Mo fire on them
The police killed him , they shot two shots and he stood still and they took him him in where all the beatings took place. They beat him till they broke his six ribs ngakhalenso matumbo anatuluka…pamene anafika kuti? Ngati ndi anthu wamba anamupha why r they ungly with the police…..osangonena tchutchu bwanji ? Arrest each and every cop who is envoved not backing them up…they derseve to lot in ndende! Nyilenda speak the trueth man that’s not noble.
the guy was shot and later on beaten by police whilist dead we have evidence osamanamiza athu iyayi, and there is no fence around police perimeter here in Mchinji…..!!!!
JB govt imeneyo
mr so called spokes person, say the truth, which fence are you talking about? you killed the suspect, just admit, sakupangani transfer. nyirenda udzafa imfa yowawa ndithu kuzolowela kuvalira pant pambali. this is mchinji inu ndiobwera. respect the pple u hv found there.
wina ayerekeze kuthawaso ku police ko tiphaso…akuba mukumazolowera pa mnchinji pano,a police akukusetekani
kobasi sitinati tizilanga tokha chonchi…..bravo ma vendor..bravo anthu okonda mnchinji…bravo mnchinji Police muthawiseso wina