Solomon Islands' police are dismissing claims their officers forced a Papua New Guinea fisherman who had crossed the border to swim back to Bougainville.
A media report claimed a Solomon Islands border patrol boat came alongside the fisherman's canoe and armed police ordered him to jump overboard.
It is the latest in a series of alleged incidents along the border where crossings are frequent.
Officers of the RSIPF Police Response Team patrolling Solomon Islands side of the common border with PNG. Photo: RSIPF Media
But Solomon Islands police have issued a statement saying their staff would not behave in this way.
The Commissioner, Mostyn Mangau, was quoted as saying " the article is extremely dangerous and full of lies..... it would be inhuman for border officers to do that."
He said his staff are trained professionals and know how to handle situations they encounter.
Mangau said this second case of what he calls 'misinformation' seems to be an attempt by people to discredit border operations with the aim of reopening "the border for their own interest."