First private Sugiarto and his group was ambushed by armed extremists led by Yambi, Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Andika Perkasa said in a written statement here on Friday.
Sugiarto and his group were attacked at 10.10 local time on their way to a location where an incident took place earlier in which another group of government soldiers clashed with separatists.
A member of the separatist group was shot dead and a gun was confiscated in the encounter in Ketinggian Pintu Angin, Muara Kulirik village, in the regency of Puncak Jaya, Andika said.
Private Sugiarto with a team of 25 personnels including district militari commanders and police chiefs were heading to the location to provide support, but they were ambushed and Sugiarto was hit that caused his death.
The military and police are still continuing security operation and the hunt for the separatists in Puncak Jaya, Andika said .(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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