from The Post Courier

Western Highlands governor Wingti was punched and had other “missiles” thrown at him at a political rally for Country Party leader and Anglimp-South Wahgi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham.

More than 10,000 people from Anglimp South Wahgi flocked to Minj to attend the Friday rally. The alleged attack occurred while Mr Wingti was waiting for Mr Maxtone-Graham.

Some in the crowd helped Mr Wingti and escorted him to the nearby Minj police station. He was later driven away to Mt Hagen in a police vehicle.

The people who helped Wingti were pelted with missiles and received bruises.

Many people at the rally were shocked and shed tears when Mr Wingti was attacked.

On Saturday, armed men stormed a polling booth in Kopiago station and stole four ballot boxes as polling began in the Southern Highlands. The boxes are still missing.

In another major incident, PNG Defence Force soldiers confiscated two stacks of ballot papers from supporters of a candidate near a polling booth in Mendi..