At least six persons have been wounded following a violent clash that broke out between police and some youth group at Manso-Tontokrom in the Ashanti region.
The incident occurred on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at about 2 a.m. local time, police say. The injured include a police officer and five locals.
The youth were said to have demanded the release of three town folks who were arrested by the police for allegedly causing damage to a mining site belonging to Benviko Company Limited, a gold mining firm located in the area.
The suspects have been identified as 24-year-old Madassil Iddris, 33-year-old Kwadwo Addo and Emmanuel Asante, 39.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the officers had been deployed to effect arrest of the three suspects following an order by the Bekwai Circuit Court.
Police say one of the suspects who raised an alarm drew the attention of the youth who had suspected the officers as armed robbers.
“The irate youth were wielding pump action guns, machetes and other offensive weapons, metal bars and other heavy equipment. They attacked the patrol team when they demanded release of their colleagues”, a statement signed by the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Godwin Ahianyo read.
The statement said a police officer from the SWAT unit, Lance Corporal Samuel Kugyenu was injured after he was hit with a metal bar during the ensuing melee.
Amidst firing of warning shots police succeeded to remove the blockades as the rampaging youth fired gunshots and pelted stones at them.
Police rescued the injured officer and was consequently rushed to the Military Hospital in Kumasi for treatment.
Meanwhile, five other persons, who are also town folks, sustained various degrees of injury and are receiving treatment at the St. Martin’s Hospital at Agroyesum, under police guard.
The three suspects are currently in police custody. Investigations have begun.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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