Night of violence rocks city

PORT MORESBY – A man died while a soldier and a female were injured after a dramatic car chase in Port Moresby – this has been confirmed to be the reason for the soldier versus police clashes that have rocked the city of Port Moresby, the Post-Courier reports.

Angered over this incident, some soldiers went to the Boroko Police station and were said to have confronted duty policemen at the station.

A police vehicle parked at the station was extensively damaged by the soldiers, who were demanding for immediate investigations into the killing and wounding of those involved in the car chase.

Soldiers went to the Manu Auto Port fuel station and attacked two policemen and smashed police vehicles.

The policemen were at the fuel station to supervise refuelling for NCD police vehicles when they were ruthlessly attacked by soldiers who arrived in two trucks, the newspaper reports.

A victim in this attack said he avoided the brunt of an axe swung by a soldier and ran towards the main road where he was saved by a passing motorist.

His colleague was not so lucky and was mobbed by the disgruntled soldiers, who kicked and punched him as he lay helpless on the concrete slab.

NCD Metropolitan Commander Benjamin Turi said the incident started when a car travelling at high speed was pursued by police from Hohola towards Tokarara and North Waigani.

The driver allegedly defied police warning to stop and was said to have crashed into a traffic median near the Waigani Fire Station.

Turi said what happened after the crash is now the subject of a police investigation and he therefore could not elaborate any further.

Turi said the identities of the driver, the woman and soldier– all from the Enga province – are being withheld until a formal investigation is completed.

The Metropolitan Commander said senior Police and Defence officials met today in a bid to prevent any further violence between members of the two armed forces.

Police investigations are continuing. - Post-Courier