POLICE have announced the death of two more people in the unrest
sparked by gassing attacks in Lusaka.
Esther Mwaata Katongo, the police spokesperson said a one person during a riot in Chazanga while another male adult was killed and the body burnt by a mob in Chibolya on suspicion that he was a thief and behind the spraying of chemical substances.
Yesterday, three people were killed by mons in different compounds.
The death toll now stands at seven with two other people having been killed by mons on Wednesday.
But Katongo said while the cases of public disorder have reduced and officers were still on the ground monitoring the situation.
“However, police are still receiving isolated reports of Malicious Administering of Poison with intent to cause harm (chemical spraying) in various townships and compounds of Lusaka,” Katongo said.
“In Matero, police received a report around 01:00 hours that unknown criminals had sprayed unknown chemical substance on students from Eden University at their boarding house located near the University in Balarstone area. 11 students are reported to have been treated as out – patients at Matero Level one Hospital, Katongo told #Kalemba in a statement.
“In Chongwe, police received a report of suspected Chemical spraying around 0300 hours involving five female students who were sleeping in the same room and were chocked.Officers who visited the scene found a brazier in the room and on it was a pot containing food which was being prepared. It is suspected that the students could have been affected by Carbon Monoxide emanating from the charcoal however investigations have been instituted in the matter,” she added.
Katongo explained that yesterday,in Chazanga and Chipwalu area, Police recorded riots yesterday between 17:00 hours and 18:00 hours where a mob mobilized and damaged Chipwalu Police Post and injured three police officers who were on duty.
“Police in the area called for re-enforcement and managed to quell the riots,” he said.
“In Lusaka’s Chibolya Compound, an identified male adult was killed and the body burnt by a mob on suspicion that he was a thief and behind the spraying of chemical substances. The body has been picked and investigations have been instituted,” she said.
Katongo repeat her calls to the public to remain calm and allow the police to conclude investigations in the gassing cases.
Katongo further appealed to the public not to take the law in their hands by descending on suspects but should apprehend such people and surrender them to police.
“We assure members of the public that police are doing everything possible to have suspected criminals behind this crime brought to book,” stated Katongo.
