A grade seven student was alleged to be murdered at the Kundiawa bus stop on Wednesday in broad daylight by two policemen.
Daka Mond, 15, of Mogl village in the SineSine- Yongomulg district was selling goods to passengers at the bus stop when the two police men approached and apprehended him for doing business at a wrong location.
One of the policeman was alleged to have grabbed a knife Mond was selling and thrust it at him mockingly. His comrade coming from behind, pushed the student forward straight into the blade, killing him.
Yongomulg leaders, including lawyer Kerenga Kua gave an ultimatum of two weeks for the police department and the Chimbu Provincial Government to pay a compensation of K500,000.
They demanded that the two departments pay K250,000 respectively and without further delay. The leaders claimed that Mond’s death brought to five the number of deaths inflicted on the Yongomulg people by police over the years.
The police force had its boundaries but went further beyond that and became criminals by murdering, brutal attacks and harassment on the very people they were to protect, the leaders raised.
Mr Kua got three eye witnesses and handed over to Provincial Police Commander John Kale and his men at the Kundiawa Lutheran Church grounds and demanded for a quick investigation and have the two police officers face the death penalty by law.
Mr Kua said all the highlands provinces were sinking with law and order problems accept for Kundiawa and the demand by the relatives was a genuine one for the murder of the young boy in the hands of the police.
The ordinary citizens and police are here to benefit from one another. There should not be any hatred in between. If we’re not careful, Kundiawa will go down like the rest of the highlands centre.
Kua
Mr Kua said the compensation demand was to make peace in the customary way, and courts would deal with the criminal offense while the relatives also had the third option for a civil case against the government.
Chief Inspector Kale has suspended the two officers concerned and has arranged for independent, impartial and third party investigators from either Mt Hagen or Goroka to dig into the murder.
This is a very unfortunate incident. Police officers always think they are above the law and are always right. We will facilitate for the courts to deal with the two concerned officers.
Kale
Early yesterday morning, Kundiawa town was in chaos, as rumors of reprisal attacks were widespread.
The relatives and tribesmen of the victim however, marched into the police station peacefully without causing any disorder.
Deputy Governor and Mayor Tiene Songan and Deputy Administration Alphonse Kii who were also present at the event said the police officers did commit murder and that they would help to assist in solving the issue.