Murders in remote Karamui Nomane

The Kundiawa Police composite team, comprised of Criminal Investigation Division [CID] and Task Force members, is waiting to be deployed to rural Karamui in the Salt Nomane Karamui [SNK] District, to investigate the alleged double murder last weekend.

Simbu Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang described the murders as 'horrific', and urged the SNK District and Simbu provincial government to send police to Karamui for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

"Karamui is a flying zone, and without the support from the government, police can't do their job," he said.

"At the moment, the suspects are still at large, and the relatives of the deceased are on a manhunt in the Karamui bush. Communities are in fear, schools, and SME's are not functioning, including the Manu Airstrip, "he said.

According to the police report, a domestic brawl in Waiya village of Karamui LLG turned tragic, resulting in the death of two people.

Superintendent Rubiang, in a statement said that on Sunday last week, Junior Samson 21, from upper Waiyo Village, ward 3 area had an argument with his wife Ro Kula at Manu market and both got into a fight.

Ro Kula's brother, Kevin Kula, who was at the scene, tried to stop them, but Junior swung his machete. Kevin managed to escape.

Angered by Junior's action, Kevin took his axe and chopped his in-laws' head and fled the scene with his family.

On the same day, relatives of the deceased retaliated and went in search of the suspect, caught his cousin Petro Malex 25, who was walking back from his garden. They tied Petro with barbed wire and demanded that the suspect surrender in exchange for his cousin brother within an hour.

Supt Rubiang said Kevin did not show up as demanded resulting in the torture and beheading of Petro in the same place Junior was killed.

He said this has brought the total number of murders in the province up to four in one month.

Supt Rubiang said two suspects from the previous week's murder in Chuave are in Police custody.

He has called on the SNK District authority and the Provincial Government to fund the deployment of police to Karamui as soon as possible.

He said the law will deal with the perpetrators once they are captured.

"We must be responsible citizens in protecting law and order. Life is a special gift from God, and we must protect it at all costs. I condemned such barbaric killings in the province", he said.

"I call on the government and communities to work together with the police to arrest criminals, murderers, and abusers who are taking shelter in our society, "Superintendent Rubiang said.