Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/SYDNEY: An Australian university professor, along with local students, has been kidnapped in Papua New Guinea’s highlands, according to the country’s prime minister.
University professor kidnapped along with students
The Australian professor, an archaeologist for an Australian university, who was on a field trip with several Papua New Guinean students from a local university, was kidnapped along with the local students.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape told local reporters that police and the military were on standby and that the government was collaborating with missionaries acting as mediators.
He said that they want the criminals to release those who were being held captive because there was nowhere to run or hide.
Because sensitive situation, the man’s identity has not been made public. A source in Papua New Guinea told Reuters that the situation was “critical” and that they couldn’t comment further. A ransom is thought to have been demanded by the kidnappers.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia did not respond immediately to requests for comments from Reuters.
