The police in Jonglei State capital, Bor town, have arrested seven wrestlers involved in causing public disorder while violently protesting planned local elections there.
On September 17, Bor was gripped by fear and panic after a group of wrestlers indiscriminately shot into the air to express dissatisfaction with a plan to organize elections to install a new wrestling body leadership. The unruly group also took hostage an electoral committee official identified as Kuol Lual.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday evening, Maj. Gen. Elia Costa Faustino, the state police commissioner, said seven suspects involved in September 17 incident were arrested last week following a state security committee meeting.
“On the night of September 17, a group of wrestlers violently shot into the air to disrupt elections scheduled for the following day. In the morning, they resumed shooting, took with them an electoral official, and beat up the governor’s office manager,” Gen. Costa said. “So, as a state security committee, we convened a meeting, identified 18 suspects, and opened a case against them with the public prosecution attorney.”
He added, “We asked the 18 accused to come forward but there was no response. So on Friday, we launched a crackdown and arrested seven of them who are now being investigated at the Bor Town police station.”
The state police commissioner pointed out that a manhunt for 11 other suspects was going on.
“Those suspects refusing to turn themselves up voluntarily is in itself a crime on top of what they did by possessing guns as civilians and shooting indiscriminately into the air, and terrorizing the residents. As police, our work is to maintain law and order so, after investigations, all suspects will be arraigned before a court,” he said.
For his part, Samuel Ateny Pech, the Bor town mayor, lauded the arrest saying it will ensure the safety of the town dwellers.
“The situation is handled. Youth are being arrested, seven have so far been arrested, and this means that such behaviors will not occur again because other youth will fear,” he said.