Settlers claim police burnt down houses

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE
FOUR houses were burnt down and a father and son were admitted to the Port Moresby General Hospital after members of the NCDC’s police footbeat patrol unit chased them and shot at them using guns.
The incident happened last Saturday at around 6pm at Karuama block in Vanapa village along the Hiritano Highway, Central.
Eye witness, Paul Maitai turned up at The National office yesterday with evidence of pictures taken from the incident captured using his mobile phone including two spent shells that the police officers used to fire at them.
He told The National that the policemen were returning from a picnic at the Kuriva Forestry Park when the incident occurred.
 A youth from their village who was also under the influence of liquor stood at the bridge side and when the vehicle drove past, he tapped the car on the side and that ignited the incident.
He said the policemen were loaded in a 15-seater bus that was donated by NCD Governor Powes Parkop.
Maitai said the city’s police personnel were under the influence of alcohol and were off duty as they were all in civilian clothing.
He alleged that the police shot at them using M-16 guns which injured a boy’s hand while others fled for their lives.
A total of K12,000 cash was also burnt down in one of the house with other properties worth more than K2,000.
The people from Karuama Block are now calling for compensation to the damage caused to their village including their lost properties.
Central Police Commander Supt John Maru when contacted regarding the incident said that his office did not receive any report regarding the incident.
However, he said that once the matter was raised and when they get particulars of the incident, they would get the internal affairs unit to deal with the culprits accordingly.