6 shot dead in Papua New Guinea

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

 

 

End of the road for these two Tommy Baker gangsters

6 shot dead in Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: Police and soldiers have shot dead six people, including two Tommy Baker Gang members, in separate incidents in Enga’s Wabag and Milne Bay’s Alotau last week.

 

Firearms seized from Tommy Baker gangsters

The police success in the two shooting incidents were reported by The National:

6 shot dead

July 19, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE and soldiers have shot dead six people, including two Tommy Baker Gang members, in separate incidents in Enga’s Wabag and Milne Bay’s Alotau last week.
In the first incident on Tuesday, police killed two Baker gangsters in a shoot-out on the hills behind Saididiyali village in Upper Dawadawa ward up the Dawadawa River in Milne Bay.
On Saturday, police and soldiers were believed to have shot dead four men while guarding Government properties following a tribal fight that broke out between the Sikinwan and Timale clans in Enga.
Enga commander Supt Ephenes Nili told The National that the two clans were supposed to sit down for a mediation today but they started fighting near the Lai River.
“We have been made aware of the allegations of the shooting incident and we are investigating the matter. I can tell you that security personnel were not based near the fighting area and were providing security along the highway,” he said, adding that according to reports received, two men were shot near the area by security personnel.
Sikinwan clan leader Robert Minkaso said the clash occurred after the Timale clan attacked and burnt several houses belonging to his clansmen.
“Several armed security personnel were guarding a building that was used as a mechanic shop. People saw the personnel mount the firearm on the bonnet of their vehicle and shot two men.
“About half an hour later, another two men were shot, allegedly by a policeman who has been identified,” Minkaso claimed, adding that “we are now trying to find out who gave the orders to shoot to kill”.
The fight is related to the man from Lagaip-Pogera who was killed in Lengi on Jan 21.
That killing sparked the ongoing quarrel between the two clans when they tried to identify who was responsible.
The village court at that time found no evidence of persons responsible, so it ordered that the Sikinwan and the Timale compensate the families of the deceased.
In the second incident, police killed the two suspected Baker gangsters in a shoot-out and later, one suspect surrendered to police.
This brings to a total 67 suspected Tommy Baker gangsters captured or shot dead since the April 29 and 30 attack on the police and petrol-bombing of the Alotau water police barracks in Alotau by the gang.
The dead were part of the Tommy Baker gang members who stormed the Masurina security base and stole three high-powered firearms on April 30.
Milne Bay commander Supt Peter Barkie confirmed the incident, saying police were continuing investigations.
According to police, eight men have been charged with 50 counts each for various crimes, including the attempted murder of policemen at the Alotau water police barracks.
The suspect who surrendered brings to a total of nine men charged with 50 counts each for various crimes.
According to police investigators, the Ulabo police post received information that three armed men were hiding in a bush camp behind Saididiyali village.
A team made up of the CID major taskforce team and the Mobile Squad Units arrived at the Ulabo police post by boat on Monday.
They drove up near Saididiyali village the same day and commenced the hike up the hills.
They left at 6.30pm arriving at 12.30am on Tuesday but had to walk another two and a half hours before arriving at the gangsters’ hideout in a garden on a hill top.
It was 2.30am and 3am when policemen moved into the garden to raid the house.
Police called out a warning to the occupants in the house to surrender but the suspects opened fire at the police who took cover in the dark and returned fire.
The shootout resulted in the two suspects being shot dead and a third fled down the hill.
Police recovered four homemade firearms with seven shot gun cartridges.
The firearms and ammunition were taken to Ulabo Police Post and on Wednesday, the suspect who escaped, nicknamed Laki of Aloa village, Gwavili Ward, Huhu LLG, Alotau surrendered to the Ulabo police .