Alcohol abuse

Met. Supt Ikumu says police operational measures will be put in place to deal with alcohol-related violence in the city.

This comes after five men were arrested for instigating violence at the Manuti settlement at 6-Mile. They were allegedly under the influence of liquor and demanded money from a PMV bus, before smashing its windows.

The PMV left the scene but returned with truckloads of armed men who allegedly stormed a market place.

Police boss Ben Turi says in the past weeks, there have been numerous reported deaths which were indirect results of the victims either being drunk and in the wrong place or being attacked by drunk suspects.

Turi is calling on Port Moresby residents to drink responsibly this election period. While there is nothing wrong in having a few drinks, people must know their limits and not get themselves into unnecessary risks.

“Law and order and safety must be the prerogative of everybody and not just the police,” Turi reiterates.

What could have been a normal, peaceful Sunday, turned into a circus at the Korobosea Drive, around 6.30am, when a group of Highlanders fired at some men from Gulf Province.

Residents told Loop PNG that these groups of men had been drinking since midnight. They got into an argument which eventually led to a man, allegedly from Baimuru, being shot.

Loop was on site to witness the different groups hurling stones and obscenities at each other while their neighbours stood only a few metres away, watching in curiosity.