Be careful on the violent streets of Mt Hagen

Letters, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday February 11th, 2014

 AT last, it is good to hear that the police are patrolling the streets of Mt Hagen. 

As  a  visitor  to Mt Hagen, I  agree that it has turned into one of the most feared towns to live in.

I am saying this because you could witness robbery, innocent people bashed and taking  away  their day’s shopping and personal items during broad daylight.

The worse streets are China Town, Mt Hagen Drive just past the AGC building and roads leading to  the Highlands from the Digicel office  and  from  the court house. 

The main one is the bus stops inside the Mt Hagen market. 

Every hour, you can see someone getting robbed or bashed or insulted and threatened. 

The origins of these perpetrators are known but you cannot do much as a bystander because these groups of young men are usually armed with screw drivers, knives, sharpened rods and so on.

Mainly young men from Gika, Moge and in combination  of those settlers of Chimbu and Southern Highlands origin around the settlements, and in conjunction with young men from Enga and EHP,  the cause havov and instil fear.  

I am glad the Enga and Tambu bus stops have some form of control.

Those trying to conduct their illegal activities on these two bus stops end up getting bashed. 

It is like survival of the fittest. 

With the police presence on the streets, the public can at least feel free to do their business and can go home happily with their day’s shopping. 

Please, extend your foot patrols to drug hot spots like Kalakai, Kaiwe and Stand Bom market. 

I am sure there are a lot happening there. 

I urge visitors to Mt Hagen to be careful when you are out there on the streets as you can never be guaranteed with safety even  with police presence.


George K

Mt Hagen