Festive season operations a success

THIS year’s festive celebrations in Lae continued peacefully into the New Year all thanks to police operations.
Metropolitan commander Supt Nema Mondiai commended the hard work of the police for maintaining peace and order during the long festive period.
There were three police operations aimed at maintaining peace on Christmas and New Year.
Supt Mondiai said these consisted of traffic’s Painim Aut Kalabus operation and the Christmas and New Year operations.
The only operation continuing is the search for the Buimo jail escapees.
The three operations had received applause from the public and had seen results in the decrease in number of drunks roaming the public areas, he said.
Supt Mondiai said previous Christmas and New Year used to be rowdy, however, with the police operations and liquor ban, it was generally quiet and peaceful.
Meanwhile, a six-year-old boy from Western Highlands province was hit by a speeding vehicle along the Okuk Highway on Monday.
The boy was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The driver of a PMV is in custody for questioning.
In other incidents, two elderly men have been held for rape. One was charged for rape on Christmas and the other on Boxing Day.
Supt Mondiai called for parents to ensure that their children are safe and under their care and urged them not to leave their children under the care of relatives because of the high number of rape cases by family members.