Street clash in Fiji

Press, 17 April 1979, Page 24

Street clash in Fiji

NZPA Suva Nightclub patrons fought a street battle with police at Nausori, about 25km from Suva, early yesterday and then went on a rampage, smashing shop windows.

Policemen were stoned and pelted with bottles during the clash. A 15-man squad was called in to help. The gang of about 20 youths and men later fled and about 100 onlookers dispersed, leaving three injured policemen and damage estimated about $4500 to shops. One special constable required stitches in a head wound and suffered bruises and a cut foot. Two others also had bruises.

Six men had been arrested and would face charges of being drunk and disorderly in court tomorrow, with some also on assault charges, said the eastern division police commander (Superintendent Muniappa Swamy). A police team with a tracker dog went to a village near the town yesterday afternoon acting on information that villagers had been involved but made no further arrest. The trouble began when a special constable arrested a man outside a nightclub for being drunk and disorderly about 12.50 a.m. Two other special constables went to help him after other revellers had attacked the first constable.