Two people are dead and a policeman is in critical condition in the hospital following violence today near Madang Town.
The policeman, who is a senior constable was trying to negotiate with local people who were protesting when he was slashed on his head and neck.
Police at the scene said the group made up, largely of local people, was angry over harassment they had suffered yesterday at the hands of relatives of a teacher who was beheaded at Bau, along the Lae Madang Highway.
Police said the locals were angry because they were not connected to the teacher’s killing. After the initial confrontation, the crowd left, then regrouped just after midday. As police were called in, locals felled a tree and blocked off the Gum Bridge.
They also damaged the town’s water supply equipment near the bridge, and burnt an unmarked vehicle used by police. The five officers in the vehicle were left unharmed.
