Arms Contact, One KKB Member Shot

JAKARTA - The joint TNI-Police team once again engaged in armed contact with the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) around Ilaga Airport, Puncak Regency, Papua, Monday, June 7. One member of the KKB was disabled.

"One person (a member of the KKB) was hiding beside the house holding a firearm and the Nemangkawi Task Force personnel were shooting", said Head of the Nemangkawi Public Relations Task Force, Kombes Iqbal Alqudusy in his statement, Tuesday, June 8.

Based on information, the KKB member who was shot was named Sapikul. However, there is no further information on whether the KKB members were successfully secured or not.

Furthermore, Iqbal also said that the gunfight began when TNI-Police officers conducted a patrol because they heard gunshots.

At that time, the KKB led by Lekagak Telenggen opened fire on the joint TNI-Polri team. Until finally there was gunfire.

"The Lekagak Telenggen terrorist group continued to fire at the officers from the direction of Honei, but the officers did not move and continued to comb towards the terrorist group at a height", said Iqbal.

After the gun battle was over, it was also known that KKB had burned the house. However, it is not certain how many houses were burned or the total loss caused by the action of the KKB.

"For material losses, it was recorded, several houses were burned by KKB around the coordinates near the shooting contact area", he said.