Police say 40 arrested

By JIMMY KALEBE
POLICE have during a week-long operation arrested 40 suspects, including a man wanted for the murder of a medical officer in Bulolo early last month.
Morobe police commander Supt Alex N’Drasal said the swoop, covering Wau town, Bulolo in Morobe, would be extended another week.
He said besides the murder suspect, those wanted for unlawful use of firearms, fighting and arson were also nabbed.
“The operation has been extended another week because we are serving eviction notices to people in the nine settlements in Wau town,” he said.
“After serving the notices, we will apply for a court order to remove all settlers in Wau town.”
The police action and operation followed a fight between the Waria and Biangai tribes in Wau town that had resulted in the destruction of properties, serious injuries, loss of lives and the burning of houses last month.
“We will continue with this crime-prevention operation again to maintain normalcy and peace when we receive more funds,” N’Drasal said.
“Currently, business houses, people and the community are happy as the situation is now back to normal.
“We will continue to monitor the situation until the operation is extended further,” N’Drasal said. He adding that the operation would also cover Bulolo to ease law and order problems there.
He said Bulolo MP and National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil had approved the use of the district support improvement programme funds for the law enforcement operation.
N’Drasal thanked Basil for his support to the police to restore and maintain law and order in Wau and the district.