Trooper fighting for life
The National, Wednesday February 11th, 2015
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
A soldIer on a call-out duty in Hela is fighting for his life at Mendi Hospital after he was attacked by a local man who suspected him of having an affair with his wife, police said.
The soldier was chopped on the neck between 4pm-5pm on Sunday in Nipa district
On Monday, his fellow soldiers went to the suspect’s village and allegedly burnt down six houses belonging to the villagers.
Southern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Sibron Papoto said the solider seriously injured was from Hela.
Papoto said the husband suspected the soldier of having an affair with his wife and attacked him.
He said the victim was rushed to Mendi Hospital and he was gradually recovering.
He said the suspect from Pulim village in Nipa escaped and had gone into hiding but was known to the police.
Papoto urged him to surrender.
“I want him to surrender, otherwise police will go in and look for him,” he said.
Papoto said a raid was only conducted by police when they were looking for suspects.
He said he had not received a report about houses being burnt by soldiers in retaliation.
He is yet to verify that report.
Meanwhile, Papoto appealed to the relatives of the suspect to take him to police.