Police presence and awareness in some hotspot areas in the city during the weekend prevented a fight between different ethnic groups in the National Capital District.
Gordon police station officers on Sunday, April 30, with community policing police officers, also from Gordon police station, visited the Eight Mile Last Block Settlement to talk to groups of people from Chimbu and Eastern Highland who had a confrontation after an Eastern Highlander died and several houses belonging to people from Chimbu were burnt to ashes.
According to the National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent, Silva Sika, the deceased from Goroka allegedly became sick after he shared some dog meat with a person from Chimbu. Mr Sika said after his death his relatives alleged that the man died due to sorcery. The relatives of the deceased man burnt a number of houses belonging to people from Chimbu.
Metsupt Sika said the team under the command of Officer-In-Charge of the Community Policing Unit at Gordon, First Constable Dominic Benjamin, quickly went into the area and stopped the fight and raised awareness on how police and the community can work together to address Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) and other law and order problems that affect the community.
Mr Sika said police presence at the location prevented the fight from escalating any further.
The team also visited another group from Enga and Hela who also fought amongst themselves during the weekend after a man from Enga was found dead. Police are yet to establish the facts surrounding his death.
According to Metsupt Sika, police are investigating the death and will take appropriate action once completed.
Metsupt Sika also thanked the Gordon police officers for their proactive approach and for bringing policing service to the people in the settlements. He said police presence in the settlements as well as awareness will deter crimes and prevent violence and physical confrontation.
Gordons Police officers doing awareness at the 8 Mile Last Block Settlement.