General News of Friday, 4 September 2015

Source: starrfmonline.com

23 soldiers detained over Kasoa demolition assaults

File photo File photo

Twenty three soldiers have been detained over the violent demolition exercise which has led to the death of one in Kasoa.

According to the Kasoa Millennium City Police Commander ASP Christopher Darkeh , the officers are in the custody of the Military high command.

"They are in the custody of the military high command. We also have information that one of the persons who were injured has died," he told Accra-based Joy FM

Four persons were seriously injured when the officers fired gunshots to disperse a crowd who were protesting a demolition exercise by a private developer in the area.

A military statement confirming the incident said the presence of the soldiers were required in the area at the specific time.

“ We wish to state that the soldiers were on operation ‘calm life duty’ which required their presence at the area. While patrolling the area, the team encountered a large crowd, protesting against the presence of an estate developer. In their attempt to calm the crowd, some crowd members threw stones at the patrol team.

"Some warning shots were fired in an attempt to disperse the crowd. The shots is alleged to have injured some members of the crowd,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, the deceased, Michael Darko, 32, passed on this afternoon while the three others have been treated and discharged.