Policeman killed by stray bullet from colleague

Winneba (C/R) Nov. 19, GNA - The Winneba Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death on Sunday of a policeman who was allegedly killed by a stray bullet from a riffle of his colleague with whom he went to arrest some wee smokers at a boatyard in Winneba. A top official of the police in Winneba, however, refused to give details about the incident, saying the Central Region Police Commander would brief the media on the matter "at the appropriate time" after the investigations.

An eyewitness told the Ghana News Agency that at about mid-day last Sunday, two policemen from the Winneba Police Station, armed with a riffle went to the boatyard, which had been turned into wee smoking den. The person said in the attempt by the police officers to arrest the suspects, there was a struggle between the police and the wee smokers during which the riffle the policeman was holding went off and hit his colleague.

He said the i njured policeman was rushed to the Winneba Government Hospital where but he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body has been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary in Accra for autopsy while the other policeman has been placed in police custody pending further investigation. Two weeks ago a team of policemen from Winneba arrested four people and seized quantities of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at the boatyard.