A 17-year-old girl died on Friday night after allegedly taking fumigation tablets to abort a five months pregnancy in Dowa.

Sub Inspector Gladson M’bumpha, Dowa Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) said the deceased has been identified as Tiyanjane Banda from Besela Village in the area of Traditional Authority Msakambewa in the district.

“It is alleged that on this fateful time, Banda agreed in with his boyfriend, Bester Edson Banda, a taxi driver, to abort the pregnancy by taking six fumigation tablets.

The girl took two tablets around evening hours but immediately started feeling unwell and was taken to Dzaleka Health Centre for medication.

Later she was referred to Dowa District Hospital where, she revealed that she was given the pills by her boyfriend then later died while receiving treatment at the facility.” Explained M’bumpha

The Dowa Police PRO indicated that postmortem examination done at the facility has singled out acute poisoning as cause of death.

“Meanwhile, police have arrested the suspect who awaits a murder charges contrary to section 209 of the penal code. The law enforcers have since recovered the remaining tablets at the house of the deceased.” Disclosed M’bumpha

Aged 25, Bester Edson Banda hails from Ndala village, traditional authority Mkukula in Dowa.