Shooting Investigation

The General Board of Inquiry (GBOI) is into its first month working in accordance with its Terms of Reference.

Because of the Kupiano incident, the GBOI intends to identify issues and gaps in the systems of the PNGDF and make appropriate recommendations for improvement in the force to ensure that such tragedies do not reoccur.

Acting Chief of Defence Force, Commodore Philip Polewara is urging all branch heads, directors and Commanding Officers to support the Inquiry.

A woman was reportedly killed in this election-related violence. A video of the dead person purportedly killed by a stray bullet went viral on social media on Monday, with many commentators levelling blame at the police.

Mr Ikumu confirmed that police reinforcements went to restore order when a rowdy and quarrelsome crowd threatened to harm election officials and disrupted polling at the ATS settlement. Rocks were hurled at police and gunshots were fired to disperse the unruly crowd.