Police in Malakal have been arresting and beating people without apparent reason over the Christmas celebrations.
A Malakal resident who asked to remain unnamed told CRN News via e-mail that he was arrested and detained for two hours on Monday evening by a group of policemen moving in a vehicle.He said he joined some other 30 people including five women picked up by the police for unknown reasons.
A ten-year old girl was arrested while searching for her younger brother who went for the Christmas celebration in the morning and did not returned home.
Another woman was arrested carrying a bag with vegetables she said she wanted to cook for her children.
Our source said he was beaten with a stick on the head and back while other officers boxed and kicked him at random.
When he asked the reason for his arrest he got further beating from the angry policemen.
The arrested citizens were taken to Malakia Police Station where other officers continued to beat them with their whips.
Our source said he was released after two hours when he managed to report his identity to an officer.
When asked for the charges of his arrest, the source was told he would get more lashes if he stood in front of the officer.
He added he did not know what happened to the people who were detained like him.
He commented that police and other organized forces went wild during Christmas celebration in Malakal.