Man dies in alleged assault by cop

AN 18-YEAR-OLD MAN from Kitikim village of North Wosera, East Sepik, was beaten to death by an auxiliary policeman using the butt of a firearm on Saturday at the Pagwi section of the Sepik Highway during a road block.
East Sepik police commander Supt Albert Beli said the policeman was with other officers conducting the road block along the highway when they stopped the vehicle.
He said according to the brief from officers on ground, the policemen went inside the vehicle and assaulted the man using the butt of a gun and injured a female pastor’s foot.
Beli said the deceased, Belden Bakamaule, and the others were travelling to attend a church programme when they were stopped at Sengo by police officers at the road block.
“I am yet to confirm why the policeman used excessive force,” he said.
“It is not right for an auxiliary policeman to be in possession of a police-issued firearm because they were not trained in the basics of weapon handling and when and how to use the firearms.
“The policeman cannot use the gun butt to assault anybody. It is a weapon that police officers and other trained people use with care.”
Beli said the youths were in the vehicle and if the policeman thought that they are doing something that is against the law they should be arrested and charged.
He said as the police officers are now conducting their New Year operation and must not use excessive force dealing with trouble makers.
Beli said he had instructed that the auxiliary officer suspend, arrested and detained to be investigated.
He said Bakamaule’s body was escorted to the Boram General Hospital morgue.
He said the situation is tense with relatives of the deceased trying to block off a section of the road preventing motorist from Pagwi to Maprik and Wewak but police had been deployed there.