Armed group members shot, arrested in confrontation

 POLICE in West New Britain shot dead a member of an armed group of men, wounded two and arrested two others, during a confrontation in Kimbe last Saturday.

Provincial police commander Superintendent Jim Namora said officers from a special operations team confiscated a rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun.

Namora said the gang could be behind a series of criminal activities in the province. He said the armed gang recently robbed employees of the Strettin Bay Lumber Company and stole their pay plus some cash.

“The formation of the special operations group was necessary to help in the rapid progression and attendance into firearm-related crime in the province,” Namora said. He said crimes involving the use of firearms would be given top priority as the province prepared to host the PNG Games in November in Kimbe.