Police step up Bogia ops

MADANG provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jnr has appointed Chief Sgt  Rudolph Sawar as the new Bogia station commander following the killing of an 11-year-old boy in Bogia over the weekend.
He said the local police could not diffuse the riot after Manam Islanders retaliated by razing down 25 houses belonging to the Kalilak villa­gers.
“Busip and Kalilak villagers then blocked off the Bogia road causing inconveniences to business houses and the public,” he said.
It is understood that local police were later able to defuse the situation on the ground after being assisted by Dylup police. 
Wagambie said Sawar was appointed because he was a Bogia local and could bring those responsible to justice.
“The killing was willfully committed,” Wagambie explained.
He said the 11-year-old was with two other youths who had gone into the nearby plantation to collect coconuts.
“The one who died had climbed the tree whilst the other two who managed to flee were waiting at the base of the coconut,’ he said.
Wagambie added that when approached by the youths believed from Kalilak both fled whilst the other was speared using a fishing gun when he tried to escape.
The 11 year old is from Manam Island residing with his family at the Asuramba care centre in Bogia district.
Two other similar killings had taken place, this making the third.
Wagambie called on the Bogia councilors to assist the police by funding the purchasing of vehicles and fuel allocation to assist both parties involved.
“I am sure district funds are allocated each year under the law and order programs. Other districts are assisting police but I don’t understand why Bogia is unable too,” he added.
The current two vehicles are no longer working as no rural lockups being built to assist in locking up suspects who get to be transported daily to access services from the Jomba police station.
“Road conditions are bad and this has disadvantaged the local police to efficiently carry out their work during riots currently experienced,” he said. ends//ak.