Suspected ESCOM vandal stoned to death in Lilongwe mob attack
A 35-year-old man has died after being stoned by a mob in Lilongwe, in an incident police have strongly condemned as mob justice.
The deceased, identified as Amon Maliko, was pronounced dead on arrival at Maluwa Health Centre after villagers allegedly assaulted him and another suspect for vandalising an ESCOM transformer at Mbalame Primary School in Traditional Authority Chadza.
Lilongwe Police spokesperson, Hastings Chigalu says Maliko and his accomplice, Million Gideon, 21, were initially apprehended by villagers from Mbalame who claimed they were escorting them to police.
However, the group reportedly diverted back to the scene of the vandalism where they began assaulting the two.
Police officers rushed to the area after receiving a report and managed to rescue Gideon, who sustained serious injuries and was taken to a health facility for treatment.
Maliko hailed from Kadambe Village in Traditional Authority Chadza, while Gideon comes from Chazwe Village in Traditional Authority Mazengera, both in Lilongwe District.
Police have since issued a stern warning to communities against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that mob justice is a criminal act that undermines proper investigations and lawful prosecution of suspects.
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