"The police will intensify operations against illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in Papua by air, sea and land," Papua regional police command spokesman said.Sentani, Papua (ANTARA News) - Police in Papua will conduct a sweeps against illegal firearms and ammunition possession by civilians following the recent spate of shooting incidents in the province, a spokesman said.
"The police will intensify operations against illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in Papua by air, sea and land," Papua regional police command spokesman Senior Commissioner Wachyono said on the sidelines of a military ceremony to send off the body of First Brigadier Ridwan Napitupulu who was killed by a mob on Monday.
Wachyono said the number of shooting incidents in Papua was quite high and had often led to deaths.
He said the perpetrators often did not hesitate to act in public such as in the incidents in Nafri, Jayapura, that claimed four lives, the shooting of the chief of the Mulia police sector, Adjunct Commissioner Dominggus Oktavianus Awes, and others.
He said the weapons in the possession of civilians in the province had been looted or stolen from national military (TNI) and police members.
"Their arms were originally held by local police and TNI members. So far there is no evidence the arms were smuggled in from elsewhere," he said.
He said the police had so far received no report about arms smuggling into Papua but they continued to anticipate it.
"This must be anticipated because the number of illegal arms held by civilians in Papua is quite high," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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