Candidate returns police rifle

 A STATE-owned high powered automatic rifle that was taken off a police mobile squad in Tari-Pori district three years ago has been returned to police in the Southern Highlands by a candidate in the local level government elections.

Tagali LLG president candidate O-kiru Laro, who has turned a new leaf in his pursuit to bring positive development to his people, surrendered a self-loading rifle (SLR) to Highlands Assistant Police Commissioner Teddy Tei and Hela acting provincial police commander and Tari police station commander Insp Peter Buka last Wednesday at Paijaka Primary School in Tari-Pori district.

It was during an encounter between Laro’s men and the MS-06 unit at Waile Creek in 2010 that MS-06 officers Dickson Pokoi and Willie Kara were wounded and the weapon claimed by locals.

Pokoi from Pangia and Kara from Goroka attended the ceremony that was witnessed by hundreds of people and leaders from the 17 council wards.