A group of residents moved in and tried to block the police demanding for the unconditional release of the suspects and started pelting the officers with stones. The officers responded with gunfire and teargas to disperse the rowdy residents leading to running battles, which lasted for almost 30 minutes before calm was restored.
The heavy gunfire forced traders to close their shops and scamper for dear life. Subi Mafabi, a retired teacher commended the move by the RDC and the police to get rid of early drinking and gambling, which he said has taken toll on the area.
Kigayi defended the use of teargas, saying the officers acted in self-defense to disperse the rowdy residents.
A total of 50 suspects were arrested in the crackdown in Budadiri in an operation that started at about 9:00 am and ended at about 3:30pm. Kigayi said this was a continuation of the operation conducted two weeks ago in the district where 358 people were arrested.
Following the earlier operation, human rights activists condemned the manner in, which police conducted their arrest. They claim the suspects were subjected to inhuman conditions after most of them were subjected to strokes of the cane by the arresting officers.
Kigayi has however scoffed at those criticising the operation arguing that early morning drinking and gambling has become a security threat in the district. He explained that instead of utilising the current rains to engage in productive agricultural activities, most residents had turned to gambling and early morning drinking.