Three persons have been arrested by the Kwabeng District Police Command in the Eastern Region for allegedly assaulting a forest guard and aiding the escape of suspected illegal miners at Bomaa in the Eastern Region.
Information available to The Chronicle indicates that the forest guards were returning from an anti-galamsey operation at the Bomaa enclave of the Atewa Forest Reserve when the incident occurred. During the operation, the officers had reportedly arrested six suspected illegal miners and seized two metal detector machines and two pumping machines.
However, while transporting the suspects, the officers were allegedly attacked by a group believed to be linked to the illegal miners. During the assault, three of the arrested suspects were freed, while one of the forest guards sustained injury around the eye.
Confirming the incident to The Chronicle, over the phone, the Kwabeng District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sheila Odai, said three suspects, aged 21, 22 and 23, had been arrested in connection with the attack and were currently in police custody.
According to DSP Odai, caution statements have been taken from the suspects and the case docket has been forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General for advice and further direction. Police are also pursuing efforts to re-arrest the escaped illegal mining suspects.
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