Eight arrested after threatening to cut school water supply

MT Hagen police arrested eight men who allegedly issue threats to Notre Dame Girl’s Secondary School, Western Highlands province.
 Archbishop Douglas Young and provincial education secretary Hans Gima closed the school and sent 700 students home last Friday after locals threatened to shut down the pump supplying water from a well unless K500,000 was paid to them as compensation.
 They told the students that the classes would be cancelled for an indefinite period.
Provincial police commander Supt Kaiglo Ambane said  police travelled to Kumgi yesterday and arrested the suspects.
He said the water well and other developments in the school is on State land and locals have no authority to interfere and demand compensation.
Supt Ambane said the eight suspects are now behind bars and would be charged with illegally entering the school’s premises, threatening the students and demanding compensation.
Classes  are expected to resume on Monday.