Suspects involved in the burning of two unmarked police vehicles on Saturday in Hula Village, Central Province have been identified with their names provided to the police.
The commander of the National Capital District and Central Province, acting assistant commissioner of police Benjamin confirmed this, stating they have been advised to surrender.
Commander Turi said, they have also received names of suspects who were involved in burning down of three houses in the village and are also calling on them to surrender before police.
“Police are yet to establish the reason why the two police vehicles were burned. There is information circulating on social media sites regarding the initial cause of the problem, which will be verified when the suspects from both sides are brought in for questioning,” Commander Turi explained.
“I want to thank my police officers in the command, as well as our Operational Units, which include the Mobile Squad and Dog Unit, who responded when police were notified by rescuing the families of the policeman in the village,” he said.
Turi stated, according to information provided to the police, it was alleged that a policeman’s daughter was seriously assaulted late last year.
The policeman’s daughter was brought in for medical treatment but died while at the hospital.
Turi explained, the relatives upon returning home for the burial, burned down some houses, which triggered the villagers to retaliate by burning the unmarked police vehicles.
Police will investigate all parties involved and they will be charged accordingly.
While stressing on the Hula incident, Mr. Turi stated that what the villagers did to the police vehicles was not right because the vehicles are not private property belonging to individual police officers or their families. They are public property.
He condemned what had happened and called on the village leaders and the police to bring in all the suspects involved by Tuesday February 10th, 2026.
The burnt vehicles were towed back to Port Moresby and the police officers responsible for driving the vehicles will be investigated and dealt with accordingly.
