Six held on suspicion of Finschhafen payback killing

SIX suspects were arrested by Finschhafen police in Morobe yesterday following the “payback” killing of a Grade Nine student at Gaing village, Hube local level government area, last Friday.
Hube local level government president Khay Takiseng said the killing of the student was in retaliation to a previous killing of a man. People in wards nine, 10 and 11 claim the man had been terrorizing them over several years before he met his death.
The deceased student was the main suspect in the killing of the man who is alleged to have terrorized the villages.
Takiseng said the student was killed on Friday (April 26) a day before a major memorandum of agreement was signed between wards 9, 10 and 11 to end the fighting that has claimed many lives over the years.
The slain student was found by his family members on Wednesday as suspects were arrested by Finschhafen police and now locked up at Gagidu police lock-up
“The signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) at Hube Station on Saturday was to bring peace among the warring clans, and for the LLG to embark on change that people want,” Takiseng said.
He said as a result of the killing, three houses belonging to the relatives of the suspects were torched.
It is understood that the slain student was in Grade Nine student at Pindiu Agro High School in Hube, Finschhafen. Takiseng has urged neighbouring villages not to retaliate and abide by their peace accord.
He thanked the Finschhafen development authority, police, and the communities of wards nine, 10 and 11, for honouring the MoA.
“We are trying to change the image of the LLG, and for the people to surrender the suspects goes a long way to say people want peace and change in their communities,” Takiseng added.