Thugs fleecing bus commuters

GOROKA Town and Eastern Highlands have always remained a peaceful place, thus becoming an ideal location to national and international institutions and facilities such as the National Sports Institute, the University of Goroka, the Fresh Produce Agency national offices, airport facilities, Goroka hospital, the new town market under construction and industries like coffee processing plants and other notable features that make Goroka Town known.
However, the situation in both western (upper highlands) and eastern (Lae-Madang)-bound bus stops of the Highlands Highway is chaotic.
As a bus pulls in, a huge crowd (street boys and K5 bus crews) rush to the bus and jump through the windows, pushing the disembarking passengers and claim the seats.
In the process, bags, purses, mobile phones and valuables are snatched.
Furthermore, the claimed seats are sold to genuine passengers at K2 to K5.
And the worst part is the so called K5 bus crews impersonating as genuine bus crew and charge genuine passengers K10 to K20 above the normal fares.
Once paid, they get the extra and give the normal fare to the licenced crew.
Such opportunists!
I have witnessed these unfortunate actions several times and am fed up already.
Last weekend, I had a heated argument with them and almost exchanged fists.
Pay week is the peak time for the opportunists to capitalise on innocent commuters.
Okuk Highway bus stops in Goroka are the only spots that become the eye-sore, tarnishing the good image of the town.
My plea to the Goroka Town Authority, the police and perhaps the PMV Board (if there is such), to ensure the bus stops are free of such thugs.
Finally, I will not hesitate to report to the authorities with a copy of this (published) experience if my relative or I become a victim of such thugs in buses.
Thank you.

Tobby, Near victim