Relatives disrupt classes

 CLASSES at the Palmalmal High School in East New Britain have been disrupted after relatives of a suspended student confronted teachers and students last week.

Three male students are nursing injuries after the confrontation.

Acting provincial police commander, Senior Insp David Yapu said the school’s board of management suspended a Grade 9 male student for damaging a power point at the school which resulted in a 

blackout.

He said the student returned to his village at Totongpal in Pomio, mobilised his relatives and returned to the school.

“What eventuated was a confrontation between them and the teachers and students at the school,” he said.

Yapu said the student’s relatives were armed with bush knives, sticks and sling shots.

“As a result, three male students sustained injuries from and were taken to the Palmalmal health centre.”

He said the three police officers stationed at Palmalmal were outnumbered by the group.

A police team had to be dispatched to the area to monitor the situation after the relatives of the three injured students threatened to attack the people from Totongpal.