One dead, two injured in brawl

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A MAN is dead and two have been hospitalised after they were shot with a shotgun during a drunken brawl in Bougainville on Friday, Bougainville Police Service Commander Francis Tokura says.
He said a suspect’s house was also burnt down at Hanahan village, North Bougainville.
Tokura said three suspects had been detained at Arawa police station after being transferred from Buka police station for safety reasons.
He said the killing would be investigated with the suspects likely to be charged with murder, being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, arson and drunkenness.
Tokura said three men sustained serious gunshot wounds and were admitted to the Buka general hospital.
“Police responded and arrested three suspects and detained them at the Buka police station. Unfortunately one of the injured died and two are now receiving treatment.
“So when the relatives heard of the death, they went to the police station to attack the suspects. However, police intervened and dispersed the relatives. Police then transferred the suspects to the Arawa police station for safety reasons and police are now conducting investigations.”
Meanwhile, police are still investigating the death of a non-Bougainvillean geologist who was killed at an exploration site called Melelup in North Bougainville on Dec 13.
Tokura said he had police reinforcements in Tinputz who will go into the area to investigate the death.
He said police were working with local leaders because of the remoteness of the site.
“We have beefed up manpower in Tinputz to go into that area to conduct investigations. But we are going through community leaders because that area is so rugged and isolated and inaccessible by road.”