By MOFFAT  CHAZINGWA –
POLICE on Thursday night shot dead three dangerous criminals in Lusaka’s Chunga area after a heavy exchange of fire.
The incident happened around 20:00 hours after the police received a tip off from members of the public that there were criminals who were about to stage a robbery in Balastone Park.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda confirmed the shooting in Lusaka yesterday.
“After noticing the presence of the police, the criminals started firing at them prompting the officers to fire back gunning down three in the process while others escaped,” Ms Chanda said.
She said a pump action type of firearm with 16 rounds of ammunition was recovered from the scene.
The bodies of the deceased are lying in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary awaiting identification and postmortem.
And an unidentified woman has been strangled to death after allegedly being raped by unknown people in Kwacha Township in Kitwe.
The woman, believed to be aged between 20 and 25 was found dead at Play centre grounds along Gwembe Road near Kwacha Catholic Church on Thursday night.
She was found with a swollen neck and in a naked state.
Copperbelt police chief, Joyce Kasosa confirmed the murder of the woman whose identity was not known.
Ms Kasosa said the woman was suspected to have been murdered between 21:00 hours and 23:00 hours.
She said the body was discovered after a heavy downpour by members of the public who immediately alerted the police.
She said there was some sign of struggle around the spot where the body of the woman was lying.
“The deceased woman was found with a swollen neck and in a state of nakedness and from the physical appearance of the surrounding you could tell there was some form of struggle,” she said.
Ms Kasosa said police were suspecting the assailants to have been in a group.
She said the body of the deceased was taken to Kitwe Central Hospital mortuary and that no arrest had been made.
“We have launched a manhunt for the assailants and we are appealing to members of the public with any suspects in mind to come forward and help the police bring to book the fugitive killers,” she said.