Police to investigate clash with students

 POLICE have ordered a new investigation into the fight between armed officers and students at Kitip Secondary School in Western Highlands last week.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Highlands) Teddy Tei suspen­ded the investigation by the fraud squad in Jiwaka and appointed a new team to look into the incident.

“I have notified the Chimbu provincial police commander and have ordered a new investigation team to probe the incident which has left seven students and a teacher injured,” he said.

He said it was alleged that shots had been fired but luckily no one was shot.

The fraud investigation unit from Jiwaka and Chimbu were looking into the books of the Anglimp-South Waghi district and had gone to the school to question a teacher as part of their investigation.

But teachers and students turned on the policemen, resulting in a fight. 

The seven students and teacher injured were recovering at the Kitip Health Centre. 

Several vehicles and properties were destroyed during the confrontation.

An attempt by the teacher to escape after the confrontation was foiled when the officers surrounded the premises and apprehended him.

Tei told The National that a lot of policemen were roaming around in the provinces claiming to be investigators and causing confusion among people.

He said they were damaging the reputation of the constabulary.

“They (police) should have followed the normal protocol by going to the school administration and talking to the principal or the deputy to hand over the teacher,” Tei said.

“It was during class hour and they have interrupted everything by going directly to the teacher who was busy with the day’s work.”