By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

A 36-YEAR-OLD man of Musele Village in Chief Mwenda’s area in Chipili District has died after he was beaten days earlier, for allegedly killing a cat.

Luapula Province Police Commissioner Malcolm Mulenga said yesterday that James Kandeke was found dead on Sunday, July 27, this year at 15:00 hours, four days after he was allegedly beaten by Robert Besa and a man only known as Rodgers, both of Musele Village as well.

The death was reported to Mansa Police Station at 16:00 hours and when police officers went to the scene, they found the body of the deceased in the bedroom of the house.

“Police rushed to the scene of crime and found the deceased’s body lying on the bed in his bedroom, upon physical inspection of the body, no physical injuries were observed.

“The body was picked and taken to Mansa General Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem to determine the cause of death,” Mr Mulenga said.

Mr Mulenga said police have been informed that on July 23, this year, the deceased got a cat that belonged to Besa and took it to his home so that it could catch mice.

He said unfortunately, the cat died and when Besa found out, he teamed up with Rodgers and beat up Mr Kandeke causing him to sustain general body pains.

So far, Mr Mulenga said, no one had been arrested but police had launched a manhunt for the suspects who were on the run.

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old man of Chitabe Village in Chief Kasomalwela’s area in Chembe District committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree after a dispute with his wife.

Mr Mulenga said Mukwe Kalumbwa left his home on July 25, this year at 19:00 hours over a difference with his wife after returning from a drinking outing.

He said the body was only found on Monday this week, three days later, around 16:30 hours in the bush near his village hanging from a tree.

Kalumbwa’s body was found already decomposed and it had been buried.

Mr Mulenga also said a house in Chansongo Village in Chief Kazembe’s area in Mwansabombwe District was burnt to ashes and property worth K1, 000 destroyed.

He said the house belonging to Moses Katwishi and was burnt by unknown people on Sunday around 04:00 hours.

Mr Katwishi was asleep at the time of the incident but he suspected that someone in the house must have left a candle on.