VARIOUS items worth billions of shillings went up in flames after a warehouse owned by Tanzania Road Haulage along Morogoro Road in Dar es Salaam was gutted by fire.

Kinondoni Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Charles Kenyela, told the 'Daily News' that the fire was allegedly caused by an electric fault, saying police were still investigating the matter to establish circumstances surrounding the incident and the real value of items lost.

"So far we haven't received any reports of human casualties but we have been informed that the items that were lost in the fire were worth billions," he said. Mr Kenyela said the warehouse was being used by different companies to store assorted items, saying the fire started at around 11 am.

Meanwhile, police in Dar es Salaam are holding four people suspected of acts of religious incitement following a special operation conducted in the city.

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Mr Suleimani Kova told a press conference those arrested are Kombo Hassan Zuberi (32), Basote Hassan Tandala alias Rayan (24) and Mohamed Hassan Sharifu (33), all residents of Dar es Salaam and Salum Athuman Mahambi (46), a resident of Tunduma in Mbeya region.

Mr Kova hinted that Zuberi is believed to be the ringleader of the group and was found in possession of various documents which he supplied to his colleagues in Dar es Salaam and other regions in order to fuel religious hostilities.

The group is also believed to have many other members who are yet to be arrested and that they are being used by people from within the country and abroad, he added.

"Following the arrests the police force will continue with special operations to round up suspected elements of groups that are bent on using religion to breach the country's peace," Mr Kova said. He called on the public to maintain law and order and not allow to be persuaded into acts that will amount to breaking the laws of the land for either religious or political beliefs that will benefit a few individuals.

In another development, two people committed suicide by hanging themselves on Monday in separate incidents in Temeke and Ilala municipalities Dar es Salaam.

A man believed to be a witchdoctor identified as Kasimu Shaban Masegesege (40), resident of Keko Machungwa in Temeke municipality was found dead in his room after hanging himself by using khanga. Temeke Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Englebert Kiondo said that the reason for the deceased to end his life was not immediately known but Mr Masegesege was accused of rape and was waiting for charges against him.

Ilala RPC, Ms Marietha Minangi has confirmed the death of a man identified as Kirit Chandulal Divecha (29), a resident of Undali area, plot 198 at Upanga who hanged himself by using a bed sheet. The deceased did not leave a message saying why he took his own life and his body was taken to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) mortuary for preservation.