Homes lit in Wewak fight

National

SEVERAL homes at the Basis (Wewak bay) were torched, families became homeless and Wewak town in East Sepik came to a standstill yesterday following a fight between landowners and settlers.
According to information from police, the incident stemmed from the death of a 38-year-old Paul Honokra from Mengar village, Wewak district.
Police said this resulted in Mengar villagers attacking and killing three settlers from Basis and Dump areas.
Police commander Supt Albert Beli said the deceased had organised a volleyball competition for neighbouring villages and settlements to participate at his village.
Police said it was alleged that on Sunday afternoon, supporters from two of the teams got into an argument where the deceased intervened and tried to quell the situation when he was shot on his chest with wire from a catapult, police said.
He was rushed to the main hospital at Boram but he succumbed to his injuries.
Beli said two others were also injured on the same day as the deceased and were hospitalised.
On Monday morning, relatives of the deceased retaliated and allegedly killed three others from the other faction.
Their bodies were at the morgue while police tried to apprehend those responsible.
Beli told The National that most of those involved were believed to be under the age of 19.
He said some of the suspects in the fight had been identified and arrests would be made soon.