Eighteen homes torched after man killed: Police

By JIMMY KALEBE
EIGHTEEN family homes were torched at the Putaera village in retaliation at the Morobe local level government area of Huon Gulf after a young man was killed on New Year’s Eve, according to police.
All personal belongings were destroyed in the flames.
Acting police commander Chief Insp John Daviaga said a young man from Putaera village was slashed across the left cheek with a bush knife.
The person killed is from Siu village in the Waria River delta.
Chief Insp Daviaga said trouble started when two drunken youths from Siu village swam across the Waria River to Putaera village in search of homebrew.
“While there, the youths acted disorderly and slashed a youth from Putaera village, on his left cheek, causing a deep wound which triggered retaliation from people there,” he said.
Police reported that Putaera villagers inflicted deep wounds on one of the youth from Siu village who was rushed to the nearest health centre but he died.
The other escaped unharmed.
In retaliation, Siu villagers burnt down 18 houses, cut down betel nut trees and cut a dog into pieces.
Chief Insp Daviaga said police were working on getting statements from witnesses and made a few arrests over the alleged murder and attempted murder at the Putaera village.
Police intervened and were able to calm down the situation between the villagers of Putarea and Siu.
“I am calling on people from both sides to refrain from taking the law into their own hands as the matters are now in the hands of the police,” Chief Insp Daviaga said.