Papua Police Chief Denies News Of 3 Civil Women Have Been Shot, Confirming KKB Handling Under Control

JAYAPURA - Papua Police Chief, Gen. Insp. Mathius D. Fakhiri ensures that law enforcement against armed criminal groups (KKB) is carried out in accordance with standard operational procedures (SOP).

According to the Police Chief, by being carried out in accordance with the SOP, the handling of KKB is directed and measurable.

"Therefore, the news related to the three women who were reported shot, last Saturday (15/5), is not true," said Gen. Insp. Fakhiri, in Jayapura, as quoted by Antara, Monday, May 17.

The police chief said that until now there have been no reports of three civilians being shot, let alone women.

In addition, news of the shooting from a helicopter is also incorrect. Gen. Insp. Fakhiri said the use of helicopters occurred while evacuating the body of Bharatu Komang who was shot on April 27.

At that time, police members were shot by KKB from a height, so to break their power, the helicopter helped by firing measurably until an evacuation could be carried out.

"In fact, one of the helicopters belonging to Nemangkawi Task Force was shot, but managed to return and land safely in Timika," said Gen. Insp. Fakhiri.

Currently, Nemangkawi Task Force personnel from the National Army-National Police (TNI-Polri) members continue the attempt to separate civilians from KKB, considering that they have been trying to make the community as a shield.

Their headquarters are usually located in one of the Honai or typical houses of the mountain communities in Papua, so the task force team tried to separate them.

Since May, three KKB members have been killed in gunfire with security forces, the Papua Police Chief said.