Villagers question actions of mobile squad

 By SHEILA MALKEN

BURNING of several houses at Kubalia station, in Yangoru-Saussia, East Sepik, has people questioning whatthe the Police Mobile Squad (MS4) is doing in the district.

District community policing officer, David Bandi said the leader of MS4 and four reserve uniformed police men from Yangoru district went to Kubalia last Wednesday and burnt down houses on customary land.

“They said they received orders from the local level government president through the district administrator to do a clean up on marijuana, homebrew and metre long bush knives,” Bandi said.

He said there was no valid document or court order served before taking action. 

Some bush-material houses, including two permanent houses, were burnt.

“These houses have nothing to do with the operation of cleaning up on drugs and knives, and these burnt houses belong to public servants living at the station,”  Bandi said.

He said he had filed a complaint with the Wewak Police Station on Wednesday and a crime report was made.

Bandi called on the commissioner and police minister to look into the matter because the MS 4 officers’ actions were out of bounds. 

Police operation chief Simon Kauba said people in the district had called on their MP to help minimise the increasing law and order problems in his district.

“That is exactly what their member Richard Maru has done, why are people complaining?” Kauba said.

“If they think the action of the MS4 are out of boundaries or reserves officers breaking any rules, report the matter to the Wewak Police Station.”