Polye’s supporters attacked

National, Normal
Source:

JAMES APA GUMUNO

ONE man received bullet wounds just below his ribs while some houses belonging to the supporters of Don Pomb Polye were torched on Monday in Kandep.
A fight allegedly started between the supporters of Mr Polye and other candidates on Monday afternoon at Titip rest house in the Wage local level government council area resulted in some gun shots being exchanged.
A witness who was at the scene, told The National in Mt Hagen yesterday that the ballot box was not destroyed but some houses were burnt down and one man, believed to be a supporter of another
candidate in the by-election received bullet wound.
He said Mr Polye, who was at the scene drove towards Margarima in the Southern Highlands province and escaped in fear of being attacked.
He said he also drove to Margarima and returned to Mt Hagen adding, the incident happened around 5pm.
He said apart from the one receiving bullet wound, no one was killed.
Sources said it was not known whether other people also received injuries or not.
Several attempts made to get in touch with Assistance Police Commissioner and Highlands Police Divisional Commander Simon Kauba yesterday for confirmation and further comments on the incident were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the polling was conducted in 45 out of the 74 rest houses in Kandep district on Monday.
The people from 29 rest houses in Wage and Kandep local level government council did not cast their votes on Monday. They cast their votes yesterday.