A 23 year old man is battling for his life at Nsanje District Hospital after being heavily beaten by angry communities for allegedly stealing goats.

Nsanje Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Sergeant Pilirani Kondwani, confirmed the development.

Kondwani further added that said the other six escaped the communities’ wrath.

Kondwani identified the one in hospital as Mafukeni Chisale who hails from Nyamula Village in Senior Chief Tengani in the district.

“It is reported that on July 16, 2019 at around 12 O’clock noon, seven suspects from Nyamula Village left home to M’kango Village in Traditional Authority Tengani in Nsanje where they stole 50 goats at a grazing field,”

He added; “Some community members saw them and started chasing them. Three jumped into Shire River where two were captured by the police forum members and brought before Chief Nthembwe while others were still at large,” explained Kondwani.

He said the local leader was forced to release the suspects in fear of them being killed in his hands as there was no evidence that they really stole the goats.

However, Kondwani said in the morning of July 17, relatives of the missing suspects and other community members went to the houses of the released suspects to ask for the where about of their relatives.

“The situation became tense as the three suspects were severely beaten by the angry mob and were all applied petrol to be burnt.

“Two managed to escape while Mafukeni Chisale who is also believed to be the team leader failed to do so. He sustained open wounds all over his body after being hacked with Panga knives,” said Kondwani.

Meanwhile, the police are still hunting for the suspects who are at large.