Mohale FM The Lesotho Mounted Police Service has expressed serious concern over the high number of murders recorded across the country during the recent festive season.
This was revealed on Tuesday by Inspector Kotsoane Ramakau, a senior police officer based in Maseru, while presenting a report on police operations conducted during the Christmas and year-end holiday period.
Inspector Ramakau said police collected a total of 49 bodies during this period, comprising 9 women and 40 men. He explained that among the women, five were stabbed to death while four died as a result of assaults. Of the 40 men, 21 were stabbed, several died following fights, and five were shot. He noted that the number of shooting-related deaths is significantly lower compared to the same period last year.
Inspector Ramakau further reported that other crimes recorded during the festive season include common theft, housebreaking, assault, sexual offences, fraud, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, stock theft, and attempted murder.
According to the police report, a total of 581 criminal cases were recorded nationwide during the period under review.
