Man killed in shootout
The National, Monday December 16th, 2013
By ZACHERY PER
A MAN is dead and others are believed to be injured by police in a shootout at Talu, Jiwaka, early Saturday.
Police were trying to arrest a council president wanted for questioning over a killing during the local level government elections.
Jiwaka provincial police commander Supt Joseph Tondop said the council president was wanted for murder.
“We rounded up 17 suspects, including the acting LLG president, and handcuffed them and were leading them out early Saturday when we were set upon by the relatives,” Tondop said.
He said he had personally tried to convince the council president to surrender to police on two occasions but he refused.
“I prepared a meal for him and invited him to attend which he did and explained to him that as a mandated leader, he has to surrender to save face,” he said.
“But he failed to surrender and had been on the run for six months. This led to this dawn raid which led to his arrest.”
Tondop said he was disappointed with the reaction from the community who tried to use force to rescue the man.
“No one is above the law and anyone who tries to obstruct police duty with force will be met with equal and more force.”