TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Aceh Provincial Police's armed offenders squad has been hunting down the Abu Razak-led armed criminals who remain at large or refused to surrender, the Aceh police spokesman, Sen. Coms. Ery Apriyono said. "The police task force personnel keep attempting to chase the fugitives but we cannot yet disclose the exact number of this armed group's members," he said in Banda Aceh, the capital city of Aceh Province, on Wednesday.

There needs to be a crackdown against these criminals for their involvement in a series of violent crimes, he said. One of the members of this group suffered a gunshot wound in a gun battle with the police on September 19, he added.

The suspect, only identified by his initials "WN", has recovered and the police investigators have grilled him to uncover the case, he added.

Muhammad Azrul Mukminin Al Kahar, alias Abu Razak bin Abdul Muthalib, was among those killed in the gun battle, the Aceh provincial police confirmed earlier.

Razak's gang members allegedly were involved in a violent robbery in the Bukti Cerana area of Ie Rhop Tinu Village, Simpang Mamplam Sub-district, Bireuen District, Aceh Province, on Sept. 12.

The victim has been identified as Baital bin Umar, who suffered material losses reaching Rp30 million, according to Ery Apriyono.

On September 19, at around 6 p.m. local time, four Razak-led gang members were involved in a standoff with the Aceh police task force in the Keude Trienggadeng area of Pidie Jaya District.

Consequently, Razak was shot dead, he confirmed, adding that he was a fugitive after fleeing from the Lhokseumawe Penitentiary, Aceh Province, on September 18, 2017. He was jailed for joining an armed criminal group of Din Minimi in 2015.

Razak was taken into custody by the Aceh police in Cot Tarum Village, Kuala Jeumpa Sub-district, Bireuen District, on April 10, 2015 for his involvement in the criminal acts of Din Minimi-led armed group.

A district court's judiciary panel then awarded him a jail term of five years and six months.

ANTARA