Youths shot by security guards, 13 injured

 By MOUA OMOA

THIRTEEN youths are nursing bullet wounds after clashes with a security firm guards at Tatana village in the National Capital District last weekend. 

The youths were allegedly shot by security guards in retaliation to an alleged assault of one of their guards by drunken youths at the village.

One of the victims, Alphonse Boe, who sustained bullet wounds on his buttock, said he was sleeping after coming back from fishing when his wife woke him to check on their daughter after hearing gun shots.

Boe said he was standing at a distance, but was hit by a stray bullet fired by security guards who were shooting at will.

Junior Willy Paliu, 16, who had surgery to remove bullet pallets, said he and several others were having their training session when the incident happened.

Paliu said they had no idea what had happened but when truckloads of security guards arrived there were no questions asked as they fired at the villagers.

His father William Paliu, a security officer with the Prime Minister’s Department, said his son sustained bullet wounds to his head.

“My son is a Grade 9 student at Badihagwa and this would affect his school, with such injuries to his head,” he said.

Another youth, Sam Karavea, also had surgery yesterday to remove a bullet from his thigh.

Meanwhile, NCD metropolitan commander Supt Andy Bawa said an investigation would be conducted into the incident at Tatana.

Bawa said he would make a statement today and appropriate charges would be laid after he received reports from the Port Moresby police.