Man attacked in land dispute

By JIMMY KALEBE
A MAN with severe knife wounds has been admitted to a health centre while two houses were burnt and a trade store damaged during a land dispute in Menyamya, Morobeon, on Friday, police say.
Morobe rural police commander Chief Insp John Daviaga said the victim was admitted to Kwaplalim hospital after his right hand and a finger from his left hand were cut off with knife wounds all over his body.
The incident happened at Lipali village, ward 9, Kome local level government over a land dispute.
“The suspects in the incident attacked around 5.30am, attacked the man, burnt down houses, a trade store, damaged garden crops and stole three pigs while destroying other properties as well,” Chief Insp Daviaga said.
He said police were still looking for the seven suspects who were known to police.
Last Tuesday, a young man was murdered after being suspected of burning down their houses.
Police later cleared the deceased of being responsible for the fires.
Chief Insp Daviaga said Menyamya had reported a spate of crimes and violence over the last six months.
“Many suspects of those serious crimes are still at large because the district lacked police manpower on the ground, there is only one regular policeman to police the entire district,” he said.
He said police had on numerous occasions called on community and district leaders to come for a roundtable talks and map out a way forward to address these crimes.
“Policing services are not reaching much of the areas in the district and the only way is for the district to work together with police so that effective policing services are carried in rural areas of Menyamya,” he said.