The vehicle used by Senior Constable Nelson Kalimda has been recovered, however the policeman is still missing, says Hela Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Inspector Robin Bore.
He said the vehicle was recovered within the premises of the residence of a prominent man in the Hela Province. The residence was left vacant as a result of a recent tribal fighting.
“People from the community are coming up with some information so we are working around to locate the whereabouts of the missing policeman.
“The vehicle was recovered in very good condition. Nothing was removed or tempered with. The vehicle key was also on the vehicle’s ignition. We still do not have any concrete leads or information as to his whereabouts,” Mr Bore said.
Assistant Police Commissioner Operations Samson Kua and Director Special Services Division Julius Tasion were sent to Tari on Tuesday to investigate the policeman’s disappearance.
Yesterday and today Acting Deputy Commissioner Specialist Operations Donald Yamasombi visited the families of policemen at the Red Sea Police Barracks in Bomana in the National Capital District to talk to the worried and frustrated families. They have blocked the entrance to the barracks where Senior Constable Kalimda and his family also reside.
“At 11.30am today they presented their petition which I received on behalf of the Police Management at the Red Sea Barracks. I reiterated the fact that the matter is being investigated and results will be made known.
“I told them that the day the men and women (now policemen and women) who decided to join the police, they swore an oath to serve their country and its people without fear, favour or ill will. So, in this case we cannot accuse Hela people. They are part of our country and we have an obligation to serve them and other parts of the country as well.
“However, the men and women in the blue uniform have a duty to abide by the guiding principles in times of official deployments. The rules are there to guide us and only if we deviate then we are bound to invite such situations upon ourselves when we could have easily avoided them. The police force has a duty to the country as a whole, not to a particular region or race therefore its men and women must serve with humility according to these guiding principles,” Mr Yamasombi said.
The Acting Deputy Commissioner said on Tuesday the mothers were planning to march to the National Parliament to demand an explanation from Prime Minister James Marape who is also the Member for Tari Pori.
“I advised them to wait as the matter is still under investigation,” Mr Yamasombi said, adding that he told the families that the facts have to be established before “we start coming up with conclusions”.
He told the families to make their concerns known first to the RPNGC management before they resort to any other action that may be counter-productive. They have done that in the petition presented today to Mr Yamasombi.
Mr Yamasombi told the families at the Red Sea Barracks that there was no confrontation on the day Senior Constable Kalimda went missing. He said the policeman left everything behind, even his weapon, and drove out without informing his Squad Commander, his NCOs or his squad mates.
“The police hierarchy is just as concerned about the whereabouts and well-being of Senior Constable Kalimda. It is our prayer that God will keep him safe and bring him back to us and especially to his wife and sons,” Mr Yamasombi said.
Mr Yamasombi said police teams in Hela are working day and night to locate Senior Constable Kalimda.
“I follow on with Commissioner David Manning’s plea to anyone who has any information about Senior Constable’s whereabouts to come forward and assist us in locating him. He has a wife and twin sons, extended families, friends and colleagues who are very worried,” Mr Yamasombi said.
Mrs Hilda Kalimda and twin sons Berthrand, left and Justin worried and waiting for news of their husband and father.
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