Suspects arrested over stoning of police vehicles

By JUNIOR UKAHA
SIX suspects have been arrested in Kimbe, West New Britain, for allegedly stoning police vehicles on New Year’s Eve.
Provincial police commander John Midi said two police vehicles, which were on operations during the festive period, had their windscreens damaged after they were stoned at two separate locations.
The first stoning incident happened at Kulingi village near the Gigo-Laleki settlement in Kimbe.
Midi said the police vehicle was on routine patrol when a group of drunk youths threw stones at it and damaged its windscreen.
He said the second incident happened at Ating village where another police vehicle which tried to disperse a group of rowdy youths, who were burning tyres, had its windscreen damaged.
Police officers in those vehicles escaped injuries.
Police responded swiftly and made the arrests.
“We have arrested six suspects,” Midi said.
“Two were arrested in relation to the first incident and four were arrested in occurrence of the second incident.
“We will charge them with wilfully damaging a police vehicle or press a much-stronger charge under the Transport Infrastructure Protection Act.”
Midi said in the second incident, the members of the community there agreed to help replace the damaged windscreen.
“I strongly condemn the stoning of the police vehicles,” he said.
“Police are here to assist the community so they should work with us and not attack us.”
Midi said aside from these two incidents, the province experienced a relatively quiet and peaceful festive period.