1 Killed in Shooutout between Armed Group, Police in Papua
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23 August 2019 20:31 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jayawijaya - An Indonesian joint law enforcement effort comprising the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) engaged in a shootout with an armed criminal group (KKB) at the Jibama Market in Jayawijaya, Papua, today on Friday.
Jayawijaya Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tonny Ananda Swadaya reported one casualty because of the shootout from the police and another injured.
Tonny explained that the criminal group had also threatened civilians who were present at the market.
“We attempted to negotiate but the armed group shot a policeman, forcing us to execute the suspect,” said Tonny on Friday.
The KKB in question according to the police are linked to an armed group led by Egianus Kogoya, who Tonny said had announced a public threat prior to the shootout.
“Eganius announced that his group would terrorize the city of Wamena,” said the police chief.
The KKB had terrorized locals for the past several days in the city’s center by roaming the streets while brandishing their firearms. These groups shifted their areas to urban environments after they were known to engage with law enforcers in Papua’s dense forests.
ANTARA