"Based on the external identification checks, I, as the chief of operations, state that the gunfight, lasting from around 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. local time, resulted in the death of the wanted terrorist leader Santoso," Senior Commissioner Leo Bona Lubis, chief of the Tinombala Operation, stated at the Central Sulawesi Police Commands Bhayangkara Hospital here on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the other body has been identified as Mihtar, who was also on the wanted list, he noted.
"This is the result of an external identification check," he added.
Leo affirmed that for further identification, DNA samples from the body would be matched with those of his family members.
Leo, who is also the deputy chief of the Central Sulawesi Police Command, stated that since the Tinombala Operation began in January, members of the Santoso-led group have split. Seven followed the group under Santoso, while the others joined the group led by Basri.
The senior commissioner remarked that the gunfight between the group members and the governments forces occurred in one of the jungles in Tambarana, Poso Pesisir, around 10 kilometers from the Poso Pesisir Utara Police sector.
Two people were found dead after the gun battle ended, and one of them was confirmed to be Santoso.
After the gunfight, an M16 rifle, four magazines, a Samsung smartphone, and four SIM cards along with some cooking utensils, clothing, and tents have been confiscated as evidence.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
