(Issued
Monday 21 January 2020)
A combined security patrol team including the anti-drug agency has been accused of manhandling some seven people in Central River Region (CRR) village of Bagadaji Toro and used teargas on them after conducting a raid in a compound.
The
seven said they recognised some of the officers from Bansang, Kuntaur and Kaur
police stations.
One
of the victims, Adama Camara said he was the first person the police used
teargas on when two pickups of officers came to their compound and surrounded
the place. “I asked them what happened and they told me to lead them into my
house without telling me what happened.”
He
said while in the push and pull with the police in their attempt to hand cuff
him, they decided to use teargas on him.
A
source who wants to remain anonymous said one of the officers who was dressed
in mufti came to the kitchen with teargas and said he would kill all of them.
According to the source, another pregnant woman complained of being kicked on
her stomach by one of the officers.
According
to them, a girl was chased by one of the officers with a cutlass while another
lady accused the security men of beating her with a heavy stick. The wounded
ones are reported to have been taken to Kuntaur Health Centre for
treatment.
Officer
in-charge of Kuntaur Health Centre, Ansumana Saidy confirmed that some people
from Bagadaji Toro came to the health center with complaints of being tear
gassed and beaten.
He
said he could not confirm that they were beaten and tear gassed by the police
but the station officer of Kuntaur Police Station had come to the health center
and taken the names of the wounded persons.
Adama
had accused that they were also beaten at the Kuntaur station before they were
taken to Kaur police station where they spent a day.
Attempt
to speak to the Kuntaur police station head proved futile as he was referred to
contact the police spokesperson.
