Market shut after attack

By GLORIA BAUAI
A POPULAR market in Lae has been closed after two police officers were assaulted while on foot patrol there last week.
Malahang police station commander Sergeant Paul Wapinan said the two officers had accosted a man in possession of marijuana at the market.
The officers were escorting the man out of the market when others pelted them with stones.
The man fled during the confrontation.
Wapinan said it was not the first drug-related incident at the market.
“There is an increase in drug-peddling at this market,” he said.
He said homebrew trading was also rife.
“We’ve been trying to control the buying and selling of illicit substances at community markets like Malahang, but these youth are always a step ahead of us,” he said.
The Malahang market has no proper fencing and operates without any strict rules, he said.
“We are trying to create a safe place for them so it will be helpful if the people help us stop rather than encourage such activities,” he said.
He said the market would be closed indefinitely until the people there addressed drug-related issues and assure the police that they would assist them.