"All police officers in Papua, with the support of TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces), have taken investigative measures led by Puncak Jaya Police Chief Alek Korwa," Polri Chief General Timur Pradopo said on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 66th anniversary of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) here, Monday.
The general did not mention the exact number of officers being deployed in Puncak Jaya. He said, however, that more officers were being sent to remote areas.
Meanwhile, Puncak Jaya Police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Alek Korwa said in Papua on Sunday that police and military personnel were hunting the unidentified gunmen who shot at a Twin Otter airplane at Mulia airport, Puncak Jaya district, Papua on Sunday morning.
"Security officers are chasing the armed gang members. But we have a problem because they are hiding in a mountainous area near the airport," Alek Korwa said.
Security officers from Papua Police Mobile Brigade and from TNI are hunting the armed gang members, he said.
He noted that security officers and gunmen repeatedly exchanged fire during the chase.
Also, it was reported earlier that five passengers were hit by bullets in the shooting of the Trigana Airlines aircraft in Mulia, capital of Puncak Jaya district.
The Twin Otter plane, with a flight code of PK-YRF, was shot at as it was landing at Mulia airport.
Its pilot, Bebi Astekyang, was hit in the leg, while Latoge Kogoya, a reporter of Papua Pos of Nabire, was hit in the neck and died.
Co-pilot Willy was also hit by a bullet fragment in one of his fingers and was unable to control the flight, causing the plane to crash into a building at the airport.
A woman, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was also hit in the hand. The shootings by the armed group left holes in the airplane.
"We are still investigating the case. We suspect an armed gang is behind this incident," National Police spokesman Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said in Jakarta on Sunday..
(T.S037/Uu.F001/ INE /KR-BSR/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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