Fight, homes razed after death of youth

POLICE have stepped up operations in Bumayong, Ahi local level government, after a weekend of fighting left at least one person dead and three homes burnt to the ground.
Residents say that the fighting is among the Pindiu people of Finschhafen district.
Bumayong, Tent City and  Malahang police could not be reached for comment.
The fighting started last week and took a turn for the worse with the suspicious death of 19-year-old Kudo Lepong from Besibong village on Sunday morning.
Kudo was said to have been intellectually handicapped since birth.
He was attacked and killed near the Busu River.
Bumayong residents, who are workers in the city, said that they feared for their lives. They said the fighting could escalate among Finschhafens and spread to other districts and provinces.
They have in the meantime warned all their children and the elderly to vacate their homes and live with relatives in town or move to neighbouring settlements at Malahang and Hunter.
Most have warned their children not to go to school even though heavy police presence had allowed PMV buses to operate yesterday afternoon.
Trade stores in the area remain closed as the atmosphere is still tense.