Police attacked, hospitalised

 AT least five policemen were injured and admitted to the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital and others sustained lesser injuries after a confrontation with locals at Tolu Point village, North Waghi in Jiwaka.

Minj police station commander Michael Kaupa said he had led a group of more than 30 officers last Wednesday to retrieve a vehicle that was taken by force from a Minz man in Banz the previous Saturday.

Kaupa said the policemen, on their way back from Mandang village a few kilometre from the Tolu Point junction, were confronted by the locals.

“Many of us could have lost our lives but the good Lord intervened to save us,” Kaupa said.

“They attacked us with stones and sticks and other sharp objects. We surrendered but they kept on advancing and attacking us.

“They set up four road blocks on the road we were to travel back on after we returned from the village where the vehicle was kept.”

He said his men had to struggle against the locals to get back to the main road.

The locals also used a vehicle to block the road.

Kaupa said he instructed his men not to shoot or even fire warning shots to try to scare the locals.

Meanwhile, a community leader and businessman at Minj Junction, Jim Kalne, was disappointed by the treatment of police by the locals.

“Police were only doing their duty and I see no reason why they should be attacked,” he said.

“I see the act as animalistic and criminal in nature.” 

Kalne called on the leaders in Tolu to apprehend the suspects and take them to the police.