Papua New Guinea's Hela Province is at risk of falling into the hands of armed criminals, local police say.
Papua New Guinea police. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The Post Courier reported Western Highlands police commander Martin Lakari as saying the provincial capital Tari was a "battle field" where there was no respect for law and order.
Tribal enemies in the province have reportedly been searching and murdering each other in the capital, and police officers have become targets when they try to enforce the law.
On Friday, a ward councillor was brutally shot at close range and killed in front of a large crowd outside an illegal gambling house beside the airport.
During the same day, a young woman was gang raped by armed men who had set-up a roadblock in Tigibi along the Highlands Highway outside Tari.
Mr Lakari called for immediate intervention by the police hierarchy and Government or he says criminals will take total control of the province.
Hela was one of the worst hit provinces when a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck in February.