Residents of Belmont district, Westmoreland, are up in arms for what they say is the brutal slaying of two young men by police yesterday.

They have threatened protest action, saying the killings were in cold blood.

predawn hunt

The residents said policemen on the heels of 26-year-old farmer Matthew Duhaney in a predawn hunt cornered him in his neighbour's house and killed him.

The other deceased, Duhaney's cousin Natola Wedderburn, 27, was reportedly at his house when the police stormed in and he was killed.

His father Clifton said he was ordered out of the house and then killed execution style. "I don't know of my son being wanted by the police or involved in any crime but if they want him, why didn't they just handcuff him and take him away. Why did they have to kill him like that?" asked the father.

Several other young men from the community were taken into custody and are being processed.

Police said two 9mm pistols and 11 rounds of ammunition were taken from the men.

The Bureau of Special Investigations has commenced a probe into the killings.