Chief of the West Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Tornagogo Sihombing stated in Manokwari on Thursday that the police had arrested two people, identified by their initials as CA and EM, on charges of possessing the illegal firearm.
Sihombing noted that the two suspects were under interrogation, pending further legal proceedings.
The firearm was intended as an item of dowry, he revealed
The practice is contrary to the local culture. If domestic conflict were to ever erupt in future, then the suspect would misuse the firearm.
Hence, Sihombing appealed to the West Papua community members, who still keep firearms as an item of dowry, to surrender them over to the police or military office to prevent any misuse.
During the raid, the police also seized an airsoft gun from an individual, identified by his initials as HP, and a rifle from an individual, identified by his initials as AR.
The two-week-long raid ended on May 5, 2021.
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Translator: Ernes Broning K/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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