MS 11 POLICE OFFICER SHOT DEAD; 2 INJURED IN ATTACK
A POLICE officer attached with the MS11 unit was shot dead, and his two colleagues were injured in Mendi last night.
In a brief from the Non Commission officer/Section Leader, the four police officers were together with two students on a return trip from Tari via Hiri-Lai road to Mendi and then from Mendi to Tambul heading Wabag when the unfortunate incident occurred aprox 7km away from the Tente junction.
From the NCO, the Driver Cst Noah Biape was shot from a higher ground with a rifle that penetrated through his neck and through the left side door, resulting in his instant death.
The 3 other members retaliated by firing several shots to the locals to dispersed them.
Unfortunately, the 3 policemen were not experienced drivers, so one of the student drove the vehicle escaping the scene when they were chased by armed men.
The police vehicle veered off the road and rolled over several times into the nearby bushes, leaving the two officers critically injured.
The gun men then attacked the officers and fled with the police officers’ firearms.
All the victims are still in Mendi with the assistance of 1ARPIR Alpha awaiting X-ray reports from the doctors, and will be flown to Mt Hagen and body of late Late Cst Noah Biape will be flown down to the funeral home.
In the meantime, 2 suspects also sustained gunshot wounds and are in a critical condition.
The civilian (students) were caught by locals and taken to police station and locked up for further questioning and investigation.
The four police officers attached with MS 11 are Snr Cst David Poke, Cst Simon Kewa,Cst Harry Gorano, and Late Cst Noah Biape.
Pictures Supplied.
