A second brawl between youths from Sukanaivalu Road and Mead Road has resulted in the arrest of 18 youths, police confirmed.

The brawl broke out following a training session at the Nabua grounds yesterday.

Police said the youths from Sukanaivalu Road have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack.

Residents and witnesses of the incident said sticks, stone, golf clubs and glass bottles were used as weapons in the attack.

Residents said despite being advised not to use the grounds because of the high tension in the area, youths from Mead Road continued to train at the grounds every day between 10am to 12pm.

It is understood that while they were training yesterday they were allegedly met by the group of youths from Sukanaivalu Road and the incident took place.

It is also alleged that the youths threw stones at other men from Mead Road and as a result two men aged 21 and 27 were admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and are in stable condition.

Tiko Kece Taxi Driver Tevita Volau was on his way to their Nabua base around 11:30am after dropping his daughter in Kalabu when he was caught in the cross fire.

Mr Volau said he was driving up Sukanaivalu Road when he saw a group of youth returning from training and were walking past Bougainville Housing area.

Tiko Kece Taxi driver, Tevita Volau. Photo: Ronald Kumar

He said before he reached the Mini Mart he greeted another driver who was going past.

“And that’s when I saw about 30 to 40 youths standing in the middle of the road, he said.

“At the same time I looked on my side mirror and saw stones and sticks being thrown overhead. The group from Mead Road were standing in front of us and the group from Sukanaivalu Road were behind us. They were throwing stones at each other and we were stuck in the middle.

“The car in front of me got hit as well as the driver that I had greeted earlier, “ he said.

Mr Volau tried to escape by sounding his horn and driving out of traffic and up to Mead Road. He also warned other drivers through radio telephone not to go down Sukanaivalu Road because of the brawl.

Mr Volau was able to escape and drove straight to the Special Response Unit at Mead Road and reported the matter to the Police. He said what happened was shocking and had it been a different driver they would have been injured.

Mr Volau later recalled seeing a shirtless man going head to head with another man before a bottle which was aimed at him, hit him on the chest. He suggested that extracurricular activities be organised to involve the youths from both sides.

Chief of Operations Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdul Khan met with youth representatives of the two communities last night. ACP Khan said the incident that occurred yesterday was linked to the one that happened a week ago.

He said the two youth leaders were influential people in their community.

“We brought them here so they could go and talk to the youths, and see a way forward. We have been able to identify some key players and our investigations continue,” ACP Khan said.

Edited by Losirene Lacanivalu

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