Oro Provincial Government is supporting the festive operations in Oro Province with K750 000 to make sure law and order is maintained in the districts and villages.
Provincial Police Commander Ewai Segi said, the Christmas operation in Oro province was launched during the weekend and police are stationed at certain hotspots areas of Popondetta.
Mr. Segi confirmed, a group of 25 police men will be deployed to Popondetta from Port Moresby to complement the man power in the province.
“Currently we have 76 police man on ground and with the inclusion of the reserve police, we should have a total of 150 police altogether”
“The duration of operation in Oro province will continue for two to three months until we see that situation is calm and people are safe to move around”
At the moment, police man in Oro province are doing foot patrols along the entrance of Kokoda trail as well as within the Popondetta town area.
Mr. Segi also stated, he is encountering challenges with intergroup fighting in the villages.
“There are reports of suspects armed with weapons walking around the town which we already arrested one over the days”
Apart from that, Mr. Segi and his team are also carrying out investigations into an alleged rape incident of an elderly woman in the Manau Mangupipil village.
Relatives of the victim retaliated and killed two others escalating the situation which is now at tense.
PPC Segi appealed to the people of Oro to refrain from involving themselves in illegal activities as police will come down hard on perpetrators during the festive season police operation.
He further added, that students and children are to remain in their homes and not wonder around during this time until the situation is arrested.