Police in Ntcheu have arrested six family members for alleged arson and malicious damage.

Ntcheu Police Station deputy spokesperson Rebecca Kwisongole identified the suspects as the Bandasons namely Gift, 32, Mike, 39, Fred, 30, Watson, 45, Ken, 22, and Esther, 25, from Sanjani Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Ganya in the district.

She also identified the victims as Jeffrey Green, 37, Alick Masamba, 60, Janet Bandason, 78, and Rodrick Wasili, 45, all from Kawala Village, T/A Mpando in Ntcheu.

Kwisongole said the suspects are accused of demolishing two houses and a shop and burning a goat kraal, maize and tomato fields on Thursday on suspicion that their sister Janet Bandason and the other victims killed their father, Miniwala Bandason, 89, through witchcraft.

“It is alleged that the six are accusing the victims of bewitching their father who died on March 26 2019 after a long illness,” she said.

Kwisongole said on the day, after a funeral service, the suspects teamed up and went to Kawala Village where they demolished three houses and a shop and burnt down a shed, a goat kraal, maize and tomato fields and chased all the victims.

Speaking in an interview, village head Kawala described the incident as unfortunate.

“When there is a misunderstanding or a disagreement, the solution is not damaging property. This is a sad situation,” he said.