Authorities in Awerial County of Lakes State say they have arrested two people suspected of injuring two spectators at a wrestling match on Saturday after one of them shot in the air.
The incident occurred in Door wrestling ground when two wrestlers Long Ayuiu faced Rian Mayom Akec.
Awerial County police chief inspector Bol Tier told Radio Tamazuj the police managed to arrest the two suspects; a wrestler identified as Long Ayuiu and his brother Marial Ayuiu a fire brigade soldier.
Tier said the two spectators Mr. Adut Looi Adut and Aguek Biar only sustained minor gunshot wounds and were receiving treatment in Guolyar health center.
“After investigations over the cause of the shooting and injuries, we have been informed that one of the wrestlers was beaten and his brother started shooting in the air. Now we have arrested them and they are being investigated for violating rules and regulations,” he said.
Following the incident, the county authorities issued an order banning any wrestling competition in the remote villages.
“Now, I have received an order banning wrestling in the remote villages from the commissioner after the first one was violated and I will distribute the copy of this order to all the Payams and Bomas in the remote villages wrestling grounds. Whoever wants wrestling games should come to town and get approval," Tier said.
The chairperson of wrestling games in Lakes State Gabriel Madol Ayom condemned the incident and said the match was organized in contravention to an order earlier issued banning any wrestling activities.
“We have closed down all the wrestling competitions in the remote villages including the wrestling of Door. But someone called Long Ayuiu invited Rian Mayom Akec for wrestling in Door wrestling ground on Saturday when the two gentlemen wrestled each other illegally which was a violation of the ban issued by the commissioner," he said.
For his part, the fire brigade officer Marial Ayuiu confessed that he fired two shots in the air to celebrate his brother's win.
“I released only two bullets in the air in happiness and not in bitterness because my brother Long Ayuiu had beaten Rian Mayom in the wrestling. I did not know that I have injured people until I was informed that I have shot and injured two people because I saw the crowds of the spectators were running away,” Ayuiu said.
He regretted his action saying he had not intended to harm anyone.