Pastor Yeremias Tepis Police Shot Killed By TNI In Papua, Suspected KKB Attacker

Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Kombes AM Kamal

JAKARTA - Police suspect that Pastor Yeremias Zanambani was shot by an armed criminal group (KKB) in Bomba Village, Hitadipta District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua. This shooting resulted in Pastor Jeremias passing away.

Initially, information about the shooting of Pastor Yeremias circulated on Sunday, September 20. Members of the Sugapa Police Headquarters immediately checked the information by meeting with the Chairman of the GKII Klasis, Pastor Timotius Miagoni.

Timothy explained to the police that he had received news from his family that Pastor Jeremiah was shot and died. But the shooter was not known.

"From the information I heard at that time, the deceased and his wife went to the cattle shed (pigs) to provide food and then his wife returned home to the village. Then the victim did not return home so the victim's wife looked into the cattle sheds in Bomba Village and saw that the victim had died, ”said Timotius as quoted from the statement from the Papua Police.

Therefore, the Papua Regional Police asked residents, including religious leaders, not to carry out activities outside the home, especially on the day. This is because the intensity of violence committed by the KKB has increased in recent days.

"We, from the TNI / Polri, are currently increasing police activities such as conducting joint patrols in order to anticipate things that we do not want together. We ask for the support of all citizens so that we can live comfortably without any disturbance from groups who do not want our area to be safe. This is our collective responsibility, especially religious leaders, "said Kamal.

Kamal explained that in Hitadipta District, Intan Jaya, there were no TNI / Polri personnel. There is only the Hitadipta Koramil preparation post.

“Rumors are circulating that the shooting case resulted in Pastor. Yeremias Zanambani was carried out by TNI officers, it is not true. The KKB (Armed Criminal Group) through its spokesperson is currently spreading slander again by saying that the TNI was the perpetrator of the shooting. Currently the KKB is looking for a moment to attract attention at the UN General Assembly later this month, "said Kamal.

The police plan to process the scene of the crime (TKP) to find out the details of the KKB shooting in Hitadopta District. "We do this to ensure the death of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani," he said.