Report by Constable Sylvester Wemuru
More than five murder cases have been reported in Madang between January and February according to Madang Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent David Seine Jr.
PPC Seine said from February first to the seventh, four murder cases were reported in the Sumkar District of which three were in the Karkar Local Level Government (LLG) and one from Sumgilbar LLG.
PPC Seine said according to police investigators, one of the three people who were murdered on Karkar Island on February 1, is the Dangsai Primary School head teacher.
He further added that the other two killed were suspects who were allegedly involved in the murder of the head teacher.
He said according to police the teacher was traveling by boat from Kubugam to Karkar Island with the other passengers when he was murdered in the boat.
“The head teacher, identified as Donald Kapom, reportedly had an argument on the boat with the other passengers and he was murdered before the boat reached shore. The killings at Karkar Island were believed to be in retaliation to the head teacher’s murder. We are investigating both cases.
“Karkar Police Station Commander Chief Sergeant Bolar Rimur is in charge of the investigation. The school was also closed and police officers on the Island are trying their best to make sure peace is restored. School must resume and the students must not be affected,” PPC Seine said.
PPC Seine said the bodies of the three people killed were taken to Kubugam by boat and onto Modilon Hospital Morgue by Talidig police officers.
He further added that a fourth man was beheaded at Karkum village along the North Coast Road on February 7. He said the man, yet to be identified, was beheaded whilst on his way to enrol his daughter in school.
(Photograph: Madang Provincial Police Commander Superintendent David Seine Jnr.)
