Four youths are in custody and have appeared in the Wapenamanda District Court over the abduction and rape and of a Grade 12 student in Tsak valley of Enga Province.
Police say six men were involved in the incident. Two of those suspects are still on the run after relatives handed over the four, allegedly involved in the pack rape, to police.
The incident occurred early this month at Wanimas village in Tsak valley.
Police say the 18-year-old victim was accompanied by her cousin brother to the toilet. They were ambushed by six men near a coffee garden, where she was abducted and taken to a house where they allegedly took turns raping her for over seven hours.
They later wrapped her unconscious body in a plastic bag, thinking she was dead, and left her at Topak creek.
The Topak community of Tsak valley condemned the actions of the suspects, saying it is the first of such in the community.
Relatives and tribesmen of the victim demanded police action with no mediation or compensation.
This resulted in relatives of the four suspects handing them to police, where they recently appeared in the district court.
Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop, acknowledged the people of Topak for handing over the suspects.
He appealed to the other two, who are still on the run, to surrender, supporting the stance for no compensation.
PPC Tondop has urged both parties to avoid instigating any trouble but support police by providing information on the whereabouts of the other suspects.