Sixty-four bodies have been found along a stretch of road in Papua New Guinea's remote highlands in an attack that appears linked to tribal conflict, police said Monday.
Papua New Guinea police chief David Manning said
"targeted operations"
were underway to restore
"law and order"
.
Additional personnel have been deployed, Manning said, adding that they
“have been given clear instructions to use all necessary means to prevent further violence and reprisals
,” he said.
The events took place before dawn on Sunday near the town of Wabag (north), in the highlands some 600 kilometers northwest of the capital Port Moresby, according to Manning.
The victims were likely tribal fighters who were ambushed by a rival group before dawn on Sunday, according to law enforcement.
“We think there are still bodies in the bush”
“We believe there are still bodies in the bush
,” added Deputy Police Commissioner Samson Kua.
The police received videos and photos which allegedly came from the places where this violence took place.
They show images of bloodied bodies with serious injuries, lying side by side on the side of the road or stacked in the back of a truck.
Tribal clashes, often sparked by territorial disputes and accusations of theft, have occurred for centuries in this part of the island.
The influx of automatic weapons has made the clashes more deadly and intensified the violence.
Kua said the shooters used a veritable arsenal, including SLR, AK-47, M4, AR15 and M16 rifles, as well as shotguns and homemade firearms.
It appears that fighting is continuing in a rural area located near where the violence occurred.