By ZACHERY PER
POLICE in the Eastern Highlands province are tracking a death squad that has been responsible for the alleged killing of two villagers accused of sorcery.
This death squad, known to villagers as “Acting Task Force”, is believed to have attacked and killed a number of people accused of sorcery, but villagers are afraid to speak out in fear of repercussions.
Police yesterday entered Ifiufa village near Goroka and arrested 11 people in connection with the killing.
Provincial police commander Supt Teddy Tei led a convoy of police vehicles into the village and arrested the village leaders after they failed to identify and hand over the suspects allegedly responsible for the killing of two elderly men and the injuring of three others last Monday.
Robert Hinele and Heba Hobo were accused of using sorcery to kill a policeman attached to Bulolo Mobile Squad 15, and were attacked by the village’s “Acting Task Force”.
Ifiufa village leader Charlie Hurutuve told Supt Tei that sorcery accusations and killings were happening in their village for the first time.
He said they had tried their best to hand over the suspects, but it wasn’t easy as it seemed.
“Since the prime suspects have gone into hiding, I am prepared to surrender to the police,” Mr Hurutuve said.
He led 10 others with him into a waiting police coaster bus and all were taken to the Goroka police station where they were questioned and locked up in the police cells.
The police also picked up five others who are the offspring of the deceased for their statements.
Supt Tei warned relatives not to interfere with witnesses and vowed to bring the suspects to justice.
He warned village leaders who condoned sorcery-related killings to be prepared to suffer the consequences as required under the country’s laws.
He told the leaders before locking them up that “they and their children had no right to be judge and jury in the village and to impose death penalties on innocent villagers”.
Susan Heba, daughter of one of alleged victims of the death squad, told police a group of young men calling themselves “Acting Task Force” attacked and killed her father while they were taking food to mourners at the haus krai of the late policeman last Monday.
She bravely told police that the village leaders had warned her and her two younger brothers not to talk to police about the death of their father.
“We were pressured not to speak out,” she said, but decided otherwise on account of a troubled conscience.
Her younger brothers Eti, a Grade 10 student, and Timi, who is in Grade 11, were with her when they reported the matter to the police.
She said the body of their father was still hidden in the house, and she was preparing a secret burial yesterday when police went into the village.
Supt Tei sent policemen with an ambulance back to Ifiufa village to retrieve the body and take it the hospital.
Mumen Hinele, son of the other deceased, said he was away when the “Acting Task Force” attacked his father and learnt later that his father had died in the Goroka hospital.
Three other people were seriously injured and are fighting for their lives at the hospital.
It is believed that there could be some others who may have been killed and their bodies hidden in the village.
The villagers, especially relatives of those killed, are scared to speak out in fear of being attacked.
Mr Tei said he would not release the village leaders until the suspects are handed over to police.