Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - The Papua regional police command has sent a special team to Timika, the capital of Mimika district in Papua, to investigate the cause of a recent spate in killing incidents.

Chief of the Papua regional police command, Inspector General Tito Karnavian, informed ANTARA here on Monday that he had indeed sent the team led by Adjunct Senior Commissioner Azis to the district.

Karnavian explained that the team will investigate who were really behind the incidents and also the related motives.

Karnavian noted that the team has so far arrested seven suspects on charges of possessing sharp weapons, and six of them have been referred to the regional police command for further investigation.

When questioned about the possibility of all suspects being involved in the killing incidents, Karnavian pointed out that it was not impossible as the vehicles used by them had identities similar to what the witnesses had described.

"When they were caught, a number of sharp weapons were recovered from their cars," Karnavian added.

The suspects have been taken to the regional police command for further investigation, Karnavian remarked.

Karnavian denied that the case was triggered by a clash between different tribes linked to the traditional land dispute case in the Djayanti area of Mimika district.

He stated that presently, he could not confirm if they were related to the Djayanti case.

In the past two months, seven people were killed in Timika due to fatal wounds inflicted by sharp and traditional weapons, such as arrows.

The hostility between the two tribes in Djayanti area since June 11 was amicably resolved with a peace agreement marked by a traditional ritual of breaking arrows. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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