PORT MORESBY – Thousands of villagers have converged on police headquarters in Port Moresby to protest the alleged police shooting of a young man.

As the protest grew there was news that another man had died from injuries sustained in the police raid on the village of Hanuabada in Papua New Guinea’s National Capital District.

Initial reports from villagers allege that the first killing occurred after police stormed into the Hanuabada market to disperse betel nut vendors.

PNG Loop reports a group from the Hanuabada area were manhandled by police officers who at first fired shots in the air.

One villager is quoted as saying more police officers then turned up and started shooting at a gathering crowd.

The police say at about 5.30 pm Friday, villagers brought the dead man’s body to police headquarters in the capital, where they said it would remain until their demands were met.

Men, women and children converged on the front door of police building shouting and screaming angrily.

Their demands include a post-mortem to be conducted on the body, all funeral expenses to be met by police, monetary compensation and compensation for the damage caused at the markets.

The villagers say the Hanuabada village is to be considered a “no-go zone” for police, and the road into the village, as well as the important Badihagwa road, will be closed until their demands are met.

PNG Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki promised the thousands gathered that an immediate and thorough investigation would be conducted into the would be brought to justice.

The grandson of a prominent Port Moresby businessman and senior resident, Dadi Toka, yesterday succumbed to his wounds from the shooting incident at the Port Moresby General Hospital, PNG Loop reported.

The 29-year-old was one of two hit by gunfire when capital police “invaded Hanuabada and fired shots into a crowd at a market place”.

“News of the second death is yet to reach a village and community already numbed and angered by the first death and the heavy handed tactics of police.” PNG Loop reported.

The first death occurred not long after the initial shooting. The body of Nicholas Rarua was taken by relatives and displayed onthe steps of the police headquarters at Konedobu where angry villagers called out to the police to justify their actions.

They also threatened to block off roads leading to the multi-million-dollar LNG plant at Lealea Papa and maintain road blocks along the bypass until their 10 million kina compensation demand is met.

Police Commissioner Vaki has appealed to the villagers to leave the main road open as it served business houses included the LNG project, as well as other village within the vicinity.

PNG Defence Force acting chief-of-staff, Colonel Vagi Oala, has called the use of force by police officers “excessive and unwarranted”.

Colonel Oala, who comes from Hanuabada, was at the scene after being informed by his wife of the raid and the shootings.

He said he arrived at the village several minutes after the shootings and attempted to speak with policemen still at the village.

Colonel Oala likened the scenario to a battlefield with fully armed officers on one end and locals on the other.

He later accompanied the villagers on the march to police headquarters.

The National Capital District Commander, Jerry Frank, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident.