General News of Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Source: GNA

Bole Police station closed as residents go rampage

Tamale, June 1, GNA - The Bole District Police Station has temporarily been closed down following a raid carried out by some disgruntled youth protesting the killing of their colleague.

Haruna Sakara, alias True, was alleged to have been shot and killed by a Police Patrol team hunting for some armed robbers, who had robbed residents of Kalidu near Tinga, both mining communities in the Bole District.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tamale on Wednesday, the Northern Regional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Tuffour said the Bole police received s distress call that a robbing incident was taking place at Kalidu on Monday 30th May.

He said a "swat" term patrolling between Wenchi and Bole was deployed to the area armed with the information that the robbers were using motorbikes in their operations.

ACP Tuffour said the police chanced upon the deceased on a motorbike and ordered him to stop for a search but he refused and sped-off, adding that four warning shots were given but the deceased did not barge. He said the 'swap' term had no option but to shoot at the deceased taking him for an armed robber. The deceased body after identification was deposited at the Wenchi Government Hospital for autopsy.

ACP Tuffour said some residents from Dakuripe where the deceased lived mobilized people in the Bole township to attacked the police station destroying valuables and equipments belonging to the police.

Other items destroyed included a Nissan pickup with registration number GW6724W belonging to the Assembly while another with registration number AS4793E belonging an officer was damaged beyond repairs. He said the police therefore had since moved to the station's from where they operate adding that 93I have been to the area and spoken to opinion leaders and chiefs to calm tempers".