Police commander calls for locals to solve own issues

EAST Sepik police commander Albert Beli confirmed a fight between two groups in the Smain village in the Dagua local level government (LLG).
Beli said the conflict erupted from a misunderstanding between two families
He said the conflict should have been solved at the village level.
“The conflict should have been solved at the village level if people don’t take sides and together report the matter to the police,” Beli said.
It is believed that the conflict started earlier this month and was ongoing.
The conflict had caused some villagers to seek refuge in neighbouring villages.
Beli said the law and order problem in the area was not only the police’s responsibility but everyone’s.
He appealed to all the community leaders to do their part.
“I am appealing to the community leaders to come forward to the police so we can all work together to put an end to this (conflict) once and for all.”
Beli said his support unit and the police station commander were on their way to Smain but had to divert to attend to a colleague who had been attacked while on a bus in a separate incident.
This delayed Beli’s men from getting to Saim village to manage the situation.
“One of my men, who is an auxiliary police officer, was attacked while he was travelling home in the PMV.”
He said the support unit who were on their way to Smain had to attend to the officer and take him to the nearest health centre.
Beli urged the communities to learn to resolve their issues first before relying on the police.