Lilongwe residents celebrate killing of notorious criminal in Chinsapo

Residents of Chinsapo and Chigwirizano in Likuni, Lilongwe on Sunday celebrated the death of a suspected criminal commonly known as Baraba.

Thousands came out of their houses carrying tree branches and joined those carrying the suspect’s body on a makeshift stretcher, to a place where they wanted to set it alight, according to witnesses.

Police, said another witness, arrived before the ‘cremation’ mission was accomplished.

Thousands of people came out of their houses, carrying tree branches and joined a group of people carrying the fallen criminal on a makeshift stretcher, on their way to an unknown destination, allegedly on a mission to set his body on fire, according to eyewitnesses.

Luckily, police arrived before the ‘cremation’ mission was accomplished, one eyewitness said.

One of the people who was in the group  said at the scene that the deceased was a criminal who did not deserve to live.

A witness told Malawi News Agency (Mana) at the scene that the deceased did not deserve to live.

“He terrorised people here, he had no regard for human life and dignity, and did not even fear the police,” he said.

Another excited witness, who sought annonymity said no person in his sound mind would shed a tear for Baraba, a biblical times serial criminal Barabas.

“Just yesterday, he beat up a minibus callboy and nearly killed him. He had on many occasions been involved in battles with the police,” said another eyewitness.

The residents claimed that the suspect had fortified his body with magical powers to repel bullets.

Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula said he was not aware of the incident.