Soldiers’ assault probed
POLICE are investigating the death of a man in Western who was allegedly assaulted by four soldiers on Wednesday for disturbing a church activity.
South Fly police commander Supt Brian Kombe said the soldiers were returning to their base at Weam when church elders stopped them and told them of the 25-year-old man who was under the influence of homebrew and had disturbed their fund-raising activity.
“So the soldiers (allegedly) went to the man’s house, arrested him and bashed him.”
The soldiers were returning from Oriomo River after dropping off some Indonesians who had been arrested for illegal entry.
The Indonesians were taken from Oriomo to Daru. “While at the station, the church elders reported to them about the man and his friends who had disturbed their fundraising activity.”
The soldiers found the man at his uncle’s house at Wipim village.
“The soldiers then woke him up, dragged him out to the main village field and assaulted him.
“They kicked him until he was unconscious. After (allegedly) assaulting him, they left him and continued their trip to Weam.
“After the soldiers left, the villagers tried to seek medical assistance (for the man) at the Wipim health centre.
“Unfortunately, the man didn’t regain consciousness.
“He was declared dead at the health centre.”
3 comments
This is a role of Police and soldiers will only assist as and when needed. Taking Law into their hands and taken innocent live is not an order from their immediate boss on the ground. Defence hierarchy is to deal with accordingly.
Kumin Rank, definitely not innocent…what goes around comes around and do you know what this community is doing fund raising for? It could be for an important thing. This was the person reported by the community for causing inconvenience with his groups of drunkards and for how long do you think this has been going for? Law enforcement urgencies somehow manage to be there at the right time to deal with such situation unfortunately he may have succumbed due to the injury. But let this be a warning to those who continue to break laws create havoc in communities as if they are ironmen.
Why do the disciplinary forces always have to bash up people? Is this the best the can do? Even if the man was a troublemaker, he could have been questioned or taken in to a police station. Now he is dead and those soldiers have blood in the hands. Hopefully they will also be brought to justice.