Police Commissioner David Manning has confirmed that the Provincial Police Commander for Eastern Highlands Province and the Goroka Police Station Commander have been suspended following a recent confrontation between local villagers and students at the University of Goroka.
An immediate review is currently underway into the operational preparations as well as the policing response, spearheaded by the Regional Operations Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Commissioner Manning stated that Internal Affairs investigators have been deployed to examine the actions of police on the ground.
He explained that this is to find out why a swifter and more professional policing response did not contain the situation.
“The recent deployment of additional police from Mobile Squads and surrounding provincial commands has helped restore normalcy to Goroka township,” Manning said.
He expressed disappointment at the escalation of a dispute that could have been quickly resolved if reported to police.
Commissioner Manning further added that this culture of violence must be stopped.
“The educated youth must break from such practices.”
