By JAMES APA GUMUNO
TEACHERS at Gumine High School in the Simbu province have boycotted classes since Monday after one of their colleagues was attacked at a roadblock set up by a former student of the school along with his tribesmen.
Last Saturday, a former Grade 10 student, who was identified by the teachers, mobilised his tribesmen and set a roadblock at Munuma village a few miles away from Kundiawa town and robbed 10 teachers returning home after shopping in the town with their family members.
Provincial police commander Chief Insp Joseph Tondop confirmed the incident yesterday from Kundiawa and said the former student pulled down John Penda at the back of the school truck at the roadblock and punched him.
Mr Tondop said the other suspects, about 11 of them, held up the teachers at the back of the truck and took off with the food stuff they had bought.
He said that the other teachers did nothing to stop the attack on Mr Penda as the tribesmen were armed with bush knives and threatened to chop them if they made any move.
He said that Mr Penda was now under treatment at the Kundiawa General Hospital.
Mr Tondop said that the hold-up occurred between 3pm and 4pm at Munuma village and the other teachers were not attacked.
He said that since Monday morning, the teachers did not attend their classes and called on the village leaders to hand over the former student and other suspects to the police immediately.
He said he would go with the provincial administrator Joe Bal and assistant education secretary to Munuma today and talk with the villagers to hand over the suspects to the police.
Mr Tondop said that if the local leaders did not want to take any actions, the police would move into the area and look for the suspects themselves after meeting with the leaders and people today.
He said teachers played a vital role in the human development and should be respected.