A local government member was killed and the deputy governor of the Papua New Guinea province of Madang was held hostage during a village feud last week.
The pair had gone to Goiro village for a peace ceremony when they were attacked by people from a neighbouring village.
The Post Courier reports tensions have been simmering for two years, and the local government member was spearheading efforts to reconcile.
A police taskforce was sent in to rescue the deputy governor, Samuel Nessau and his team.