By ANDREW ALPHONSE
A 32-YEAR-OLD woman was allegedly “tortured to death” at Ialibu, Southern Highlands province (SHP).
The woman was identified as Betty Wina from Walupape 2 village in Pangia and married to a man from Lama village in Ialibu.
Ialibu police sources told The National by phone from Ialibu that the woman died allegedly from severe beating bythe husband which included hot iron rods pressed onto parts of her body.
Police said the woman, a mother of two, had taken off to Madang last week without her husband’s knowledge, following an argument during which she was beaten by the husband.
He went to Madang and brought her back to Ialibu last Saturday and allegedly started beating her for leaving him.
Police alleged that the husband locked the woman up in the room and continued with beating her over the last four days, applying red-hot metal rods to parts of her body.
Police said local neighbours who tried to intervene and assist the woman were threatened by the husband with a bush knife and could not save her.
The woman was found dead in the house last Wednesday morning.
Yesterday, her angry relatives went to Lama to retrieve the body and they burnt down four houses belonging to the relatives of the husband.
Police said the husband’s identity was known but he has gone into hiding and could not be arrested.
Walupape councilor Paulus Irele prevented the woman’s relatives from committing any further violence.
Mr Irele, who is also the woman’s relative, said there was also a conflicting story from the relatives of the husband who claimed that the woman committed suicide, being unable to endure the punishment by her husband.
He said the body was taken to Ialibu hospital for examination by police criminal investigation division team.
Mr Irele said the body would then be taken to Mendi hospital for autopsy to determine the cause of death.
He urged the relatives to refrain from committing further violence and allow police and doctors to deal with the case.
He also called on police to immediately have the suspected husband arrested.