SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — The police are confirming that four men were shot dead during a police operation in the community of New Town, just outside the St Elizabeth parish capital Black River in mid-afternoon, Friday.

Word from the New Town community yesterday evening suggested extreme disquiet among residents who allege that the men were killed in cold blood.

At least two of the dead were said to be brothers from the community.

When contacted, Director of Communications for the Jamaica constabulary, Karl Angell confirmed the incident but said he could give no further details, as he had not yet been briefed.

Angell said that, “as is the normal situation in cases like these the matter has been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).”

“Dem a nuh wrong doer,” a young woman who claimed to know the four men, told the Observer.

She alleged that the police party had come from outside the parish.   

Police sources suggested that at least two of the men were suspected to have been involved in the ‘drugs for guns’ trade.