Man killed, left on highway

A MAN was killed at a village along the Transgogol Highway in Madang yesterday, police said.
The deceased, identified as Elizah Paulus, was allegedly attacked by unknown assailants armed with bush knives.
He was killed in an area that had been the scene of other deaths earlier in the year.
Local police were alerted and arrived at the scene near Sihan village and confirmed that Paulus had been killed between 8am and 9am yesterday.
The body was taken by the police to Madang.
Madang police commander acting Supt Mazu Rubiang called on community leaders in Transgogol to work with his men to bring the killer, or killers, to justice and to make the area safer for travellers and local people.
Rubiang said the apparent lack of concern shown by the people was worrying.
He said since the killing no one in the area had come forward to provide information on the identity of suspects or a motive for the killing.
It is believed deaths in the area could be linked to an ongoing conflict between rival villages.
Renouf Gala and an accomplice from Sihan village were killed at Berin village on Sept 21 by relatives of the Kawas family after some of their members had been killed in March; Gala’s killing was also in retaliation for his killing of a Mawan villager as well as several other violent acts.
Rubiang said earlier this month a former councillor, Omuk Salil of Barum village, was killed and the suspect was arrested with the help of the local community.
He said on Nov 10, a man and his son were killed in Kopol, Trannsgogol.
Rubiang called on the local level government president and ward councillors in the area to assist law enforcement to stop the killings.