Alleged gangster arrested in police impersonation operation

By JUNIOR UKAHA

A MAN, who was allegedly part of a gang that posed as police officers and captured a truck driver, was captured and beaten by members of the public in Nadzab, Morobe province on Tuesday.

A video of the bashing was widely circulated on social media platforms.

Initially, many people thought it was a kidnapping as the attackers accused him of being a kidnapper.

In the video, in which guards and civilians attacked the suspect, the attackers in Tok Pisin were heard saying: “Em man sa kidnapim ol pikinini ya em displa man (This is the man who kidnaps our children).”

“Yupla no mekim lo ol whiteman, yupla mekim lo skin kala blo yumi yet (You didn’t do it against a white man, but against your own countrymen).”

Another attacker also said: “Ol pikinini blo mipla sa poret lo yupla (Our children are afraid of you).”

Commenting on this video, Morobe Provincial Police Chief Inspector Jacob Singura said that no child was abducted, contrary to the attackers’ comments in the video.

“No child has been abducted as has been reported,” Supt Singura said.

“The driver of a dual steering truck was stopped this (Tuesday) morning near Leron by a group of armed men, blindfolded and left in a blue ten-seater used by the criminals. His truck (driver) was driven away by a member of the gang. The driver of that blue 10-seater was attacked by an angry mob in Nadzab but was rescued by police and taken to Angau Memorial General (hospital), treated and is now in police custody,” Supt Singura said.

“Please note that no child abduction took place.”

Supt Singura warned people against jumping to conclusions and spreading misleading information, creating fear and anxiety among citizens.

He warned that people spreading misleading information will be dealt with under the Cyber ​​Crime Act.

Meanwhile, Lae Peace and Good Order Committee chairman Yaxs Tugula said people should not create unnecessary fear, confusion and unrest among the public by posting false and misleading information on social media forums.

Regarding the widely circulated video, Mr Tugula said people should not kill the suspect but hand him over to the police for investigation and charges.