Deputy national police spokesperson, Thomeck Nyaude, tells Zodiak Online that police action will only be taken based on findings by a special committee that was set up to investigate the incident.

Civil rights activists have argued that while the probe by the special committee is underway, police would also have taken administrative action by following operational protocols and identifying flaws.

The incident took place a month ago in Lilongwe where police had responded to calls that some people had barricaded an access road stopping people traveling.

In the scuffle that ensued between the police and members of the public, a police officer got killed.

There are suspicions that the rape cases were an act of police retribution for the death of one of their own.