Former deputy governor arrested

A FORMER deputy governor was among a group of men arrested for allegedly burning an elderly woman to death in a sorcery-related killing.
Simbu provincial police commander Supt Joseph Tondop confirmed the arrest of Yaldrua Kelaga who was Simbu’s deputy governor under then Simbu governor Peter Launa.
Supt Tondop said Kelaga was arrested and charged with aiding and abetting murder suspects in the killing.
Supt Tondop said one suspect was arrested earlier while four others were picked up later during a police raid in the village.
The former deputy governor was among the four.
He has been detained at the Kundiawa police station
and will appear before the Kundiawa district court this week.
Meanwhile, a 60-year-old woman has been accused of practising sorcery and was brutally murdered and burnt to death at Masul village in Sinasina area last month.
Supt Tondop said villagers suspected her of practising sorcery over the death of a security guard who died while working in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands province.
Supt Tondop said police were receiving sorcery-related killings reports almost every week, and he was concerned that community leaders were doing little about it.
He said law enforcing agencies, churches, non-governmental organisations and good citizens were fed up with the killing and violence.
“I will use every available resource to punish anyone involved.
“I call on the public to report to the police on any sorcery related killings and violence,” Supt Tondop said.
He said a special police task force was established to deal with sorcery-related killings in the province, and this task force was responsible for the arrest of the five suspects and Kelaga.