The Madang provincial government in Papua new Guinea has introdcued sweeping measures in a crackdown on criminal behaviour in response to an upsurge in violent crimes in the province.
The newspaper,The National, reports the measures include a ban on the sale of alcohol, a curfew, and eviction of squatter settlers.
Madang residents were this week horrified by the attack on an elderly expatriate woman, a long-time resident of the town.
Armed men allegedly broke into her house, attacked and raped her before ransacking the house.
Police responded quickly by rounding up 25 suspects, six of them identified as prime suspects picked up at a settlement.
They are still being questioned, and charges are expected to be laid soon.
The Madang provincial executive council led by Governor Sir Arnold Amet has met and agreed to a number of measures.
These include a province-wide ban on the sale of liquor starting next Thursday effective for two months.
Sir Arnold said that only hotels and lodges would be allowed to sell alcohol to their guests with meals.
A curfew is also set to be imposed, restricting the movement of people between 10pm and 6am.
