Lae police investigating fatal stabbing of officer

A POLICEMAN was stabbed to death on Wednesday night at Hobu in Nabak local level government, Nawaeb district in Morobe.
Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Alex N’Drasal said the incident happened after Senior Constable Ben Melvin and three other officers responded to a call for assistance received on the police toll free number.
He said Melvin died after he was stabbed and hit on the head.
“I condemn the barbaric killing of the policeman. The way he was murdered is not acceptable,” he said.
He called on the leaders at the settlements, ward, the Nabak local level government and Nawaeb MP have to come out with a very good reason and explain way such thing has to happen to my policeman when he was there only to help and not to fight them”.
Police will still go into that area to make sure those involved in the killing are apprehended and brought to justice.
N’Drasal said during the time the Late Melvin and the other officers approach, youths were out in numbers on the road shouting and swearing to the public.
The youths were believed to have been under heavy influence of alcohol and drug when watching the State of Origin game.
He said when the police vehicle approach the youths, they attacked them in the vehicle and Melvin was stabbed while in the driver’s seat trying to pull out the vehicle which was stuck in the mud. Three suspects have been arrested while the prime suspect is still on the run and is known to the police.
“We will continuously be going in and out of that area until we get the prime suspect and his accomplices.”
Meanwhile, several phone calls to get comments from Nawaeb MP Kennedy Wenge and other community leaders were unsuccessfully.
The late officer was attached to the Rural Patrol Unit with the provincial police headquarters in Lae.