"I will sack the Yalimo police chief on Monday," he stated.
Speaking to ANTARA on being contacted from Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, on Sunday (June 9), he remarked that the four police rifles were stolen by a 23-year-old Yalimo policeman, identified as 2nd Brigadier AM.
AM made away with four rifles from the weapon storage room of the Yalimo police precinct in Elelim Sub-district, Yalimo District, Papua Pegunungan Province, on Sunday morning, at 4 a.m. local time, he noted.
A team of Papua police personnel had been deployed to Yalimo to investigate the case and hunt down the absconder to recover the stolen assault rifles and tens of bullets, Fakhiri affirmed.
Regarding the chronology of events leading up to the pilferage of the police rifles by AM, he said AM was reportedly not dressed in police uniform when he arrived at the Yalimo police station on early Sunday morning.
AM carried a large backpack and appeared to be in an inebriated state. He told his colleagues on duty in the early morning that he was looking to charge his cell phone battery.
After entering the police station, AM abruptly dashed to the weapon storage room and got hold of four rifles. He then placed three rifles into his big backpack and carried the other one, Fakhiri stated.
When police officers on duty attempted to stop him, AM threatened to shoot them. He then escaped the police station, according to Fakhiri.
As reported earlier, on Thursday, Feb 1, 2024, armed Papuan separatists reportedly got their hands on an assault rifle and a magazine in Puncak District, Central Papua.
The stolen Pindad SS1-V1 rifle and magazine containing 20 5.56 mm bullets belong to the Aminggaru Airport's security post in Ilaga Sub-district.
Over the past few years, armed rebel groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to incite fear among the people.
The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.
Related news: MPR Speaker urges firm action against KKB in Papua
Related news: Papuan insurgent wounded in gunfight with Indonesian troops
Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
