A POLICE officer died while his colleague was injured after the vehicle they were travelling in plunged into the river at Sopas near Wabag town in Papua New Guinea last week.
The deceased was identified as Camillus Salingiwi from Nuku, East Sepik.
The two were returning from Goroka when the accident happened.
Sergeant Peter Langhiri said Salingiwi was a hard working officer who would be missed by his colleagues.
Apart from the tragic accident, Langhiri said police managed to ensure that Porgera town celebrated the festive season peacefully and quietly. He said a curfew was observed by the members of the joint forces deployed in the area.
“We relatively had a peaceful new year. There were no reports of major incidents, including alcohol-related problems,” he said.
Langhiri said they used to deal with a lot of major crimes, including fights, killings and sexual offences.
He said people enjoyed themselves in a responsible manner and celebrated in their homes.
“That shows that people’s mindsets have changed,” he said
He said celebrating New Year outdoors usually resulted in fights.
He said police and soldiers engaged in the call-out operation were working around the clock to keep Porgera safe and peaceful.
He said they were monitoring the mining site as well as the township.
“We want to make the environment conducive for people to live and work in,” he said.