A grade 11 student attending Father Peter Secondary School in Banz, Jiwaka province, was one of two people allegedly shot dead by police 10 days ago.
Joseph Emmanuel Kolombo, 18, of the Kaulga Ogla clan, in Anglimp district, was one of the two people shot dead in Mt Hagen city.
The father learned of his son’s death when he went to the Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital after suspecting that Kolombo could have been shot dead by police.
Kolombo was to return to Polga village from school on April 27 and was unaware police were chasing street vendors.
He got off a PMV bus on Chinatown Street, when he was shot.
His father, Joseph, and mother, Susan, did not know that the eldest of their five children had been shot.
They thought their son was at school.
Emmanuel had decided to return to his village for the weekend.
On Monday, Kolombo checked to see if his son was at school but was told by schoolmates he was not there.
On Tuesday, Kolombo decided to go to the school and check but he was not there.
The following day, Kolombo again went to check if his son was with relatives near Mt Hagen but could not find him.
Kolombo then went to the hospital and asked a security guard, Jeffery Lep, if he could help him to go into the morgue so he could see who the two people shot by police were.
Lep led Kolombo into the morgue where he identified his son’s body.
Thomas Namba Wukupa, a family member, said the family was shocked.
“It is shocking for family members and tribesmen to lose such an innocent young man who does not take part in any street sales,” Wukupa said.
Wamp Nga Group of companies’ director Anis Aipa condemned the action of police for taking away the life of a student who was on his way home.
He said they wanted the law to take its course and deal with the policemen who had no respect for innocent citizens.
Father Peter Secondary School Students Representative Council president Rodney Michael said Emmanuel Kolombo was a humble and disciplined student.
“He is very bright and concentrates on his studies,” he said.
He said the school and students’ body felt sad about losing Emmanuel Kolombo in such a manner.
Students attending secondary and high schools in Western Highlands and Jiwaka have joined the tribesmen and families to mourn Emmanuel Kolombo’s death at Polga.
Students turned up in uniform and painted their faces to join the tribesmen and families in showing their respect.
Emmanuel Kolombo’s body remains at Mt Hagen General Hospital morgue.
Via – The National