Community arrests 20 suspects

A COMMUNITY in Daru, Western, made citizen arrests on 20 suspects involved in killing a suspected sorcerer, acting South Fly police commander Snr Insp Ewai Segi says. Snr Insp Segi said the community at Samari settlement apprehended the suspects for allegedly entering the victim’s house, dragging him despite the desperate pleas of his family and assaulting him severely, causing his death. The incident happened on May 30 at around 8pm. The victim had been accused of a string of mysterious deaths in the settlement. Snr Insp Segi said yesterday that the suspects had been handed over to the police and were now in custody at the Daru Police Station. “These suspects will be questioned and more suspects will be arrested,” he said. The South Fly police commander condemned the killing which he described as a mob lynching. “Sorcery-related killings are unheard of in Daru town, this is a first,” he said. “All those involved in the killing will be rounded up to face the law.” Snr Insp Segi said the deceased was from Kiwai Island in South Fly and was an educated man. “Some people in Daru started rumours that mysterious deaths were allegedly linked to the victim,” he said.
“The rumour was that the victim always fled Daru to his village whenever a death occurred and returned weeks later after the mourning period was over. “Last month, there was a death in Daru and so these rumours began to spread again and instigated hatred that led to an armed mob going to the victim’s house, dragging him out and bashing him up until police arrived and chased them away.” Snr Insp Segi said this type of killing was unusual in Daru where most killings happened as a result of alcohol and drug related incidents.