School burnt in fight over lake

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Villagers burnt down a school and attacked a head master and his wife after a fight broke out over a lake in East Sepik, provincial police commander Superintendent Robert Gesa says.
“The fight broke out last Friday between the Torembi and Korogu villagers in the Gawi district over a lake where both villagers usually fish. During the fight they slashed the head master and his wife and burnt down all the classrooms and teachers’ houses. And it looks like the school will be closed next year,” Gesa told The National yesterday.
He said the injured couple was now in Wewak receiving medical attention to their injuries.
“The headmaster had sent all the teachers and children home last month after suspecting that there would be a fight between these villagers. Only he and his wife stayed back to take care of the school properties. And he was caught in the fighting broke out.”
Gesa said the lake was between the villages and villagers from both sides had been fishing there for generations.
“A dispute had occurred over the lake about two months ago.
“Leaders of both villages were in the process of resolving it. However, youths high on drugs and homebrew took it into their hands and issued threats, leading to the fight,” Gesa said.
“Police are now in that area and are working with the leaders to apprehend the suspects involved in the fight causing injuries to the couple and the burning down of the school.”
Meanwhile, police are investigating the killing of two men in the Angoram district when a fight broke out over a land dispute between Wom and Kambuku villagers.
“Two suspects have been arrested at the Maramba village in Angoram over an alleged rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl. Police are still searching for four other suspects involved in the incident.”