Sub-Inspector Bizwayo Jere is battling for his life at Mzuzu Central Hospital after being hacked with panga knives by angry villagers from Ezaneni Village, T/A Mtwalo in Mzimba.

Police officials have confirmed of the incident in a statement made available to faceofmalawi.

The fact of the matter is that, Jere, a police officer stationed at Kafukule Police Unit in Mzimba and his fellow officers went to the village to arrest some people who cultivated Cannabis Sativa popularly known as Chamba in their farms.

According to Jere, the people resisted the arrest and called for help; prompting some villagers to come in large numbers with weapons like panga knives and axes which they used to assault him.

In an attempt to scare the villagers away, Jere fired live ammunitions to scare them and shot one on the thigh.

The move made the situation worse as the villagers overpowered the law enforcers and managed to take K2C riffle with bullets, a handcuff and motorcycle which they later handed over to Mzuzu Police.

Meanwhile, Jere is in critical condition.