Police in Lilongwe on Monday, arrested 33 people on suspicion that they took part in the riot that took place at Kaphiri within the capital city.
The riot was between the Kaphiri residents and police officers over the death of a young man within the community on 6 April, 2017.
Lilongwe Police Spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula, identified the deceased as Masauko Gabriel Makola, who the police said was killed by unknown criminals in the area of Traditional Authority Tsabango in the district.
According to the police spokesperson, the deceased was a taxi operator using motorcycle (Kabaza), at Kaphiri Trading Centre along Lilongwe-Blantyre road.
It is believed that the late Masauko Makola, was killed by one of his customers during the day.
Dandaula said the community reported the matter to Chitsime Police Unit, and that the police started their investigations.
“The police found the body in a certain uncompleted house at Buluzi village, which is within the same area on 8 April, 2017,” said Dandaula.
He also said that “the dead body was taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital for post-mortem, where it was revealed that death was due to multiple injuries.”
After hearing rumours that the police had arrested a suspect for death of Makola, the villagers invaded the Chisime Police Unit, and demanded the release of the said suspect.
“They said they wanted to avenge the death of their relative by killing the said suspect,” Dandaula disclosed.
When the police told the community that they are yet to arrest the suspect, the angry residents started destroying things such as five vehicles which were packed at the office saying that the police was shielding the suspect.
The mob also set ablaze a police armoured vehicle in the process.
The Maravi Post was also informed that the Officer-in-Charge for Chisime Police Unit, has been transferred to Zomba as a junior officer, due to the incident.
According to Dandaula, the 33 have all been charged with malicious damage, and will soon appear before court.
Meanwhile the Lilongwe police spokesperson said the investigations to arrest the suspect, who murdered Masauko, are still underway.