Stray bullet kills man

Bechem, July 31, GNA- An unidentified man was on Wednesday hit by a stray bullet and died later at the Bechem Government Hospital during a tussle between the Police and a group of young men over the arrest of a man whose name was given as Kwaku Atweneboana.

Inspector Joseph Peryagah, Station Officer at the Bechem Police Station, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that on Wednesday evening, Constable Adamu Saana, the policeman on guard duty at the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), saw Atweneboana holding a cutlass heading towards the bank.

Inspector Peryagah said the policeman ordered him to stop but he refused and rather charged on the policeman. But with the assistance of two colleagues, Const Saana over-powered Atweneboana, arrested him and sent him to the Police Station.

Inspector Peryagah said a group of young men numbering about 100 rushed to the Police Station and started hurling stones and demanded the release of Atwemeboana. Some policemen and their dependants were hit by some of the stones and a police vehicle was damaged. Constable Saana was injured in the process and taken to the Duayaw-Nkwanta Saint John's Hospital.

Inspector Peryagah said later Presiding Member of the Tano District Assembly came to the Police Station and reported that Atwemeboana had been sent to the hospital after being hit by a stray bullet. The Inspector said when he and the Presiding Member went to the hospital they were told that Atwemeboana was brought there from the police station and died of a brain injury caused by a bullet. He however could not confirm if the shot was fired by one of his men. At the Hospital Dr. F. Dery said those who brought Atwemeboana to the hospital alleged that a stray bullet hit him. Police are investigating the incident.