Pratu Miftahul Arifin Falls When Approaching Susi Air Pilot's Hostage Area In Papua

Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark Mahrentens and the KKB took him hostage. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - TNI soldier Pratu Miftahul Arifin was reported killed because he was attacked by an armed criminal group (KKB) during a search for Susi Air Capt pilot Philip Mark Merthens in Nduga, Papua Mountains.

"The information I received was only one person physically, only one person on behalf of Pratu Arifin," said Head of the TNI Information Center (Kapuspen) Laksda Julius Widjojono at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Sunday, April 16.

Julius said that Miftahul's body was still at the scene.

"While still at the location," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the chronology of the incident, said Julius, it started with a team trying to approach the position of hostage-taking of Susi Air's pilot, Capt Philip Mark Merthens, in Nduga, Papua Mountains.

"From the test task force trying to comb closer to the position of the carriers, then there was an attack from them one fell at a depth of 15 meters," he said

"And when trying to help get a re-attack. Other conditions are still in the deepening stage," he continued.

For this incident, the TNI Commander, Admiral Yudo Margono, will conduct an in-depth evaluation of the case of Pratu Arifin's death in the incident.

"The possibility of the TNI Commander in the future is to conduct an in-depth evaluation," he concluded.