Police, governor condemn burning of shops, looting

By Alphonse Porau and Rebecca Kuku
NATIONAL Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Benjamin Turi and Governor Powes Parkop have condemned the burning of shops in Boroko on Friday and the looting of others in the area.
The Papindo Shop and Johnstons Pharmacy, the Chung Implant Dentist on top of the pharmacy, and the YMC food outlet next to it were burnt.
While fire officers were trying to contain the fire, looters broke into TDL, Kim Foo and Sons Ltd, and CHM shops.
Turi said it showed how “primitive” some people still were.
He said police officers from the Boroko station arrived at the scene but were outnumbered.
“By the time, reinforcements came from other police stations in the city, all the items in the shops were already taken,” he said.
Turi also blamed the social networks for been a contributing factor to the mass looting that took place.
Turi said police needed a tank of water “to spray the looters”.
In another incident, Turi caught some police officers looting the CHM shop.
Two police vehicles carried the loot from the shops.
Turi ordered the officers to take the items back to the shop.
They will be identified and disciplined, he said.
Parkop called on the police to arrest all those involved.
“I am disgusted at the attack and looting of shops not affected by the fire, particularly CHM at Tabari Place,” he said.