A 15-year-old boy was on Friday shot dead, and 3 others arrested over allegations of being part of a criminal gang in Mina Love area, Mombasa. 

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According to the police, Reagan Rashid who was armed with a machete was shot after he refused to surrender.

5 youths escaped, while 3; including a primary school pupil were apprehended .

Relatives of the youths arrested, however, denied the allegations leveled against the suspects, stating that the boys did not have any ties to criminal activities.

Kisauni police boss Julius Kiragu said police acted after receiving information from members of the public.

“We were informed that there was a group of suspected criminal gangs armed with machetes terrorising locals. When we raided their hideout, the suspect who was fatally shot attempted to attack our officers with a machete,” he said as quoted Standard.

Human rights activists led by Haki Africa Director Hussein Khalid raised concern over the killing, as the Friday evening incident brought the total number of people shot by police within 48 hours to 2.

“Police have taken advantage of the public outcry over criminal gangs and are resorting to killing suspects instead of investigating and charging them in court,” he said.