The police comander in Papua New Guinea's Enga province has condemned the killing of a senior public servant as barbaric.
Epenes Nili said the Health Department technician was attacked at his home in Wapenamanda district on Sunday.
Mr Nili told the Post Courier newspaper that three other people in the house escaped with knife wounds.
He said the attack was perpetrated by a group of young men from the Yangakuni tribe, who were taking revenge for the death of a man in neighbouring Western Province.
Four suspects have surrendered to PNG Defence Force soldiers while three others are still on the run.
A police landcruiser patrols the streets of the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins