PORT MORESBY – Family members of the three victims involved in a car chase in the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, that ended with one soldier shot dead, have condemned the actions of the police.

The Post-Courier reports that the family is calling the police action brutal and uncalled for.

A spokesperson Dr Maryanne Tokome said whatever the three did does not warrant a life being taken away.

All three are cousins from Wapenamanda in Enga.

The surviving soldier says they were chased by a police Landcruiser, but they eventually stopped, got out of the car, raised their hands showing they meant no harm. He says the police walked towards them and shot them and harassed the woman who was with them.

The paper reports Dr Tokome saying the family is giving the police hierarchy until today to talk with them or they will take legal action.

Meanwhile in Lae, a total liquor ban was has been declared indefinitely for the strife stricken tribal settlements around the troubled city.

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru announced the ban which will include all beer shops and liquor outlets.

Endorsed by the Morobe Provincial Peace and Good Order Committee of which Naru is a member, a resolution to ascertain the status of the settlement land in the fighting area, with a view to properly develop and settle only genuine tenants was also agreed upon.

He said the ban will be enforced following last week’s resumption of hostilities between ethnic groups residing there.

The committee warned it would not hesitate to declare the area a “fighting zone” if the situation did not improve between the warring groups, which could give way to mass arrests and eviction of all squatters.

In the Southern Highlands, two people are dead and more than 35 houses have been torched, including a newly built classroom in the Imbongu district.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Max Tuman said a man believed to be a recent university graduate was killed after the opening of a headmaster’s house funded under the district service improvement programme by Imbongu MP Francis Awesa.

He said after the opening, rival groups from Tona Piambil and Tukupangi ended up in a scuffle that led to the killing of the first person, a former student of the school.

Tuman would not reveal the cause of the fight, but sources said the incident was related to politics. He said the opening of the headmaster’s house was within the area of a former political rival.

He said in retaliation for the death of the man, the people from Paimbil attacked the people of Tukupangi and burnt down about 35 houses and the newly-built headmaster’s house.

He said another person was shot dead in a raid the next day by the people of Piambil.

Tuman said police quickly responded and stopped the fight and arrested four suspects in connection to the killing of the former student and all are now locked up at the Mendi police cell.

He said police are now camping in the area to stop further destruction to the school, the local health centre and the Catholic church.

PNG Defence Force Commander Gilbert Toropo is from the area and reports indicate his home was also burnt down, the Post- Courier reports. - PNC