Omar Badjie, 27, who died following a confrontation with police, will be buried today in his hometown of Mandinari amid ongoing tensions over the circumstances of his death.

Police said Badjie died last Friday after a fall during a “hot pursuit,” but eyewitnesses and family members alleged he was beaten after being caught with a cannabis joint.

His death has sparked anger and protests in Mandinari, prompting the government to send a delegation to calm unrest. President Adama Barrow has pledged that justice will be served.

A post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul by Dr. Leigh, with the family’s lawyer Ayub Johnny Njie and medical representative Dr. Daffeh in attendance, along with police officers.

Samples were taken for toxicology and microscopic analysis to clarify conflicting accounts of Badjie’s final moments.

The body was formally handed over to relatives on Tuesday. The funeral service and burial are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. local time in Mandinari.

By Adama Makasuba