Man shot over watermelon theft

A MAN was shot dead and four injured over a missing watermelon from a garden which started a fight between two villagers in Central last week.
Central police commander Chief Supt Johannes Yapi said a 27-year-old man was shot dead with a homemade gun while four others from Maipa village in North Mekeo were also injured by Loi villagers in the Kairuku-Hiri district.
Yapi said the fight started when a man from Maipa village went to a garden and stole a watermelon from that belonged to a man from Loi village.
The owner of the garden found out and argued with a Maipa man before a fight broke out.
During the fight the Loi villagers fired shots from their homemade guns at the group from Maipa killing one and injuring several others.
Yapi said police had identified five suspects who used homemade guns during the fight and were expected to be arrested soon.