NTB Police Investigate Case Of Police Shooting Residents While Blocking Illegal Miners

West Sumbawa Police Chief AKBP Yasmara Harahap (right) together with regional-level policy maker officials visited shooting victims/ANTARA HO

The NTB Police are investigating a member case in West Sumbawa Regency who shot a resident in the leg while blocking the action of a private company that forced him into the Jereleh area to carry out illegal gold mining activities.

Head of Public Relations of the NTB Police, Kombes Arman Asmara Syarifuddin, said the investigation is now under the control of the NTB Police's Profession and Security Division (Bidpropam).

"The member is already in Mataram for clarification by bidpropam," said Arman, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, June 26.

The police made a request for clarification to ascertain whether there were indications of violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the use of firearms or not. Moreover, this case relates to victims from the community.

"So, we first investigate the truth and currently it is still in the bidpropam process," he said.

Arman appealed to the public, especially in West Sumbawa Regency, not to take actions that could disrupt regional conduciveness.

"Trust the handling of the case to us (Polri). We will still do it professionally," he said.

If the member is proven to have committed an act that violates the SOP, his party will process it according to the rules in force in the police.

"We will definitely process it if members violate the SOP. However, for now let us work first to ensure the truth," he said.

The shooting case of this resident occurred in Belo Village, Jereleh District, West Sumbawa Regency, Saturday (24/6) night. The victim who was injured in the right and left legs was named Ramli Ramdani.

The victim was shot while together with residents of Belo Village trying to prevent a private company from forcing him into the Jereleh area to carry out illegal gold mining activities.

According to residents' understanding, mining activities were not licensed so residents blocked the company from entering the mining area. This then became the cause of clashes between residents and the company.

Reports of the clashes were reportedly followed up by the police. In the security activity, Ramli was revealed to be carrying a sharp weapon.

Police officers who helped secure the incident found out about it and tried to secure Ramli. Because they did not heed the warning, officers shot Ramli in the leg.

Regarding this incident, the West Sumbawa Police Chief AKBP Yasmara Harahap visited the victims who live in Belo Village.

"Alhamdulillah, during the visit, we were well received by the families of the victims and the people of Belo Village, we hope that incidents like this will not happen again," said Yasmara.