Police investigating death of school mates

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE are investigating the mysterious death of two high school school mates found at Myola near the Kokoda Track, acting Southern police commander Chief Supt Joseph Puri says.
He said they had received a complaint from relatives that the victims were abandoned by their friends along the track that ran from Central to Northern, 96km long.
“The teenagers allegedly died from extreme cold weather after been abandoned by their friends and went off-course the track,” Chief Supt Puri said of Brandon Tago and Ansernee Kaupa who were students at the Iarowari High School at Sogeri.
“We will investigate the deaths of the victims after their bodies were found away from the main track in the Sohe district.”
Acting Northern administrator Trevor Magei had earlier said the teenagers’ deaths was unfortunate as the track was closed to international tourists due to the Covid-19 and so the up-keep of the track was down-graded.
“Track maintenance was not done and secondary re-growth had caused these young men to make a wrong turn which led to their faith,” he said.
“I strongly advise that individuals and groups that wish to walk the track should report to authorities before they start walking.”