Fight over woman ends in village brawl

By JUNIOR UKAHA
TWO men quarrelling over a woman sparked off a fight between two groups of villagers last week, police said.
National Capital District Superintendent of Operations Andy Bawa said 17 men were arrested and later bailed after being charged.
The fight erupted between the villagers from Baruni and Pari in Motu-Koita after a Baruni man married to a Pari woman accused her ex-lover from Pari of continuing an affair with her.
Pari villager Gamu Noka said the husband was  beaten up by his wife’s ex-boyfriend.
The husband then called his relatives in Baruni to ask for assistance. They came to Pari and started the fight with the Pari villagers.
Bawa said the 17 men were detained at the Boroko Police station but were released on bail last Monday.
Noka, who himself was hit on the head, said the men from both villages sustained injuries and had to be treated at the Port Moresby Ge­neral Hospital.
Bawa said the situation had calmed down but police were monitoring the situation.