The Member of Parliament for Asunafo North, Mr Robert Sarfo Mensah, is blaming the police and opinion leaders in the Brong Ahafo town of Atronyie for the mob justice meted out to the presiding member for Goaso on Sunday. Mr Mensah says Anthony Yeboah Boateng’s life could have been spared if the police and opinion leaders in the area intervened early. A group of irate youth lynched the presiding member on suspicion of murder. The MP says the incident followed a week of agitation amongst the youth, over alleged killings in the town. “I even understand that when they stopped the late presiding member someone went and informed the chief who was then asleep that they had just spotted the vehicle that was suspected to be that of the serial murderer. I was just informed when I visited the family that the chief told them to do whatever they want to do with the person. If the chief whose residence is about six metres away from the crime scene had come out to advise the youth who had gone on rampage…I am told that after they had killed the late PM they were about to set the vehicle on fire and it was around that time that the chief came and when he told them to stop they stopped,” he alleged. Mr Mensah said part of the blame could also be placed at the door steps of the police because their station is not too far away from the crime scene. “I am told it is about 10 to 16 metres away and even when they came in later they were able to protect the wife of the late PM as well as two Catholic nuns who were accompanying the body,” he said. He said tension is mounting in Goaso but opinion leaders are in close talks with them to calm down. He said the local police are investigating the issue. The wife of the deceased and two catholic nuns who took refuge in the police station are said to be safe in Goaso. The Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Kwaku Ayensu Opare-Addo, says police personnel have been deployed to the town of Atronyie where the incident occurred. Road blocks have also been mounted to prevent any suspects from leaving the town. He however disagreed with the suggestion that the murder could have been avoided if police from the nearby police station had intervened promptly. DCOP Opare-Addo told Joy News that the police arrived on the scene while Mr. Yeboah was still being attacked. “The police came in trying to stop them but they were also cautious not to use arms on them… it was just about some metres away from them but before they came the mob had instituted action already. Before they could safe the three women they had stoned him,” he said. DCOP Opare-Addo denied reports that earlier murders meant for ritual purposes in the town were done in similar fashion where people dressed like Catholic sisters to outwit people. However, he said the police would pursue the assassins no matter where they go. “I will never let them go. I have told the chief of the town that they would never find peace. I never knew it was a PM or a Hospital administrator. My concern was that a citizen had been killed and I wanted to know why that happened. And when I got there the situation was so horrible, unimaginable and embarrassing,” he said. He said the police would handle the issue professionally to make sure that they come out with good leads.