By CHARLIE DUMAVI
A PAPUAN group expressed their disappointment on the growing number of alleged police brutality and killing in Central province.
The New Generation Papua Besena (NGPB) community group is not happy with the ongoing police harassment on citizens and also the recent killing of two Central men.
The two central men were killed in separate incidents in the Central province. Late Iru Billy from Gaire was shot in the head by a suspected police officer and the recent kidnaping and killing of a 36 year old Emmanuel Ivagai in Inauabui village along Hiritano highway. The family of both deceased men and the people of Central province are cooperating with the police to see justice is served.
However, on Friday April 9, 2021 a Central women and her husband was shot at by three men and a women on a white unmarked 10-seater land cruiser who claimed to be police officers. Rhoda Vere and her husband were heading out to Magi highway when the incident happened. The unmarked vehicle approached the couple at Gereka and opened fired at them. When the couple got passed the suspects, they (alleged police) chased them and caught up with them at Bautama where one of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot at the couple’s vehicle tyres and physically insulted the couple. The couple pleaded for explanation; however the suspects kept hitting them and accused them for almost causing an accident.
“The driver of the 10-seater hit me so bad and my ear and my face bled and I almost fainted. I kept on asking him to stop. I said I would call the cops but he mentioned that he was the cop,” said Vere.
This incident has spark the NGPB leaders to come out to the media and ask the heads of the police and the leaders in the two Central electorates to look into the matter and address it as soon as possible.
NGPB chairman Peter Sam demanded the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to discipline the police men and women in the force to serve the people.
“Cases of alleged police brutality and killing is very serious matter to us in Central province, the people of Papua and the Motu-Koitabu. I believe we speak on behalf of the people who have fallen victim of police brutality and the practice has to stop. This growing incident of undisciplined police or those associated with police involving the use of excessive force seems to be occurring right across the country,” said Sam.
He also called upon the government to stop RPNGC Police brutality, the deaths in custody, land grabbing and the bias distribution of the development budget.
Sam said these activities are increasing in Central and it is not acceptable. NGPB also want updates for the Hanuabada incident in 2015, were late Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi were allegedly shot and killed by police officers.
He added that the matters can be attributed to police over stepping their boundaries and must be properly investigated and the suspects are arrested and charged.
Sam further applauded Central governor Robert Agarobe and ACP Anthony Wagambie jnr for their efforts in addressing the recent police related killings in the province.