Teenager axed to death

A 19-YEAR-old teenager who was in the wrong place at the wrong time was axed to death in Tsak Valley in the Wapenamanda district, Enga province, last Friday.
Ten men armed with bush knives and axes from a neighbouring village were looking for a suspected sorcerer whom they blamed for the death of a woman from their village.
When they could not find their suspect in Ipali village, they took the life of an innocent young man, Larson Kuileng, who was in their vicinity.
Provincial police commander Supt Michael Chare said the man accused of practicing sorcery had gone into hiding.
Supt Chare condemned the killing and said the identities of the killers were known to the police and would be arrested shortly.
He said the killing was about to develop into a tribal fight when police intervened on the same day and urged both parties not to take the matter into their own hands.
Supt Chare said police spoke to the tribesmen of the killers to hand in all the 10 suspects and not to harbour them in the village.
He issued a stern warning to the people that any one seen harbouring the killers would be arrested and charged with harbouring criminals.
“The situation is now very tense and police are monitoring the situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, eight suspects from Mamis centre, also in the Wapenamanda district, who assaulted a policeman two weeks ago were surrendered to the police over the weekend.
He said they were charged with assault and causing grievous bodily harm and appeared before the Wabag district court yesterday for mention and their case was adjourned to June.