By ALICE NACHILEMBE
A-16- year-old boy of Chingola has been killed by suspected stone dealers (illegal miners) after a drinking spree.
The Juvenile of 34 Mushili Road Chiwempala, was allegedly punched on the nose and fell on the edge of the road, and was rushed to Chawama health center where he died in the early hours of today.
Copperbelt Police Deputy Commissioner Tresphord Kasale confirmed the development to The Independent Observer in a Phone Interview that the victim was brutally beaten .
Mr Kasale said the victim sustained a swollen backside of the head & bleeding from both nose & the mouth.
He said brief facts are that the victim was with his friend, walking along Mwaimwena and Just at the corner of Mwaimwena & Nalumango Roads, they were confronted by a group of about six boys who stopped them.
Mr Kasale said that after the confrontation, one of the boys, identified as John, started harassing the victim then his friend, intervened, trying to stop the fight which was about to ensue.
He said the said John continued harassing the victim & punched him twice on the nose and he fell on the edge of the road.
Mr Kasale said the suspect & his friends thereafter ran way, leaving the victim lying unconscious on the road.
He said the victim’s friend, tried to resuscitate him by pouring water on him but he was not responding.
He was later rushed to Chawama Health Centre where he was admitted and the medical personnel tried to resuscitate him and he started responding, but he was not speaking.
Mr Kasale said the report of Assault was later reported to the Police who rushed to the clinic and found the victim trying to respond to treatment, but unfortunately, he died at 03:00hrs.
He said the incident occurred between last night and the early hours of today.
“The police visited the scene of Crime with the help of the victim’s friend, and Water stains which was poured on the victim by his friend, was found on the tarmac where he was laid, investigations into the matter have been instituted to bring the suspect to book and a team of Illegal Miners, who happen to know the Suspect, have been approached to assist in the apprehension of the suspect,” he said.
He said the suspect is believed to have taken refuge in Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) open pit as he is also believed to be one of the stone dealers.
Mr Kasale said the body of the deceased is lying in Nchanga North General Hospital Mortuary awaiting Postmortem.
