Student’s death probed

By Rebecca Kuku
POLICE are investigating the death of a grade 11 student of Ialibu Secondary High School who was killed during a clash with villagers over a dispute over the school principal position.
Mendi police station commander Gideon Kauke said a team from the Crime Investigation Division would be sent to Ialibu to investigate the death, the burning of school dormitories and why the Provincial Education
Board had appointed two principals.
Three dormitories, a classroom and school buildings were burnt down last week by relatives of a man injured when students fought with villagers last Tuesday. The body of the Grade 11 student was found at a creek near the old airstrip.
Kauke said police would also facilitate a peace talk between Koromi villagers and students from Ialibu Secondary High School.
Provincial Police commander Joseph Tondop and the Provincial Deputy Administrator Henry Hapen will attend the peace talk at the Ialibu Station.
“At the same time we will ask the relatives of the deceased to give us 30days to complete investigation.”
The school remains closed.
Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra said officers from the ministry were in the province to assess the situation and decide if the school should be closed or become a day school.