3 KKB Members Killed in a Gunfight in Yahukimo

The joint team secured three senpi guns after a shootout with the KKB in Dekai. (ANTARA/HO/Cartenz Peace Task Force)

JAKARTA - Kaops Damai Cartenz Irjen Faizal Ramadhani said three KKB members from the Yahukimo XVI Kodap Battalion Yamue led by DPO Ronal Heluka were killed during a shootout with a joint team in the KM 4 Logpon area, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains.

The shootout that occurred on Friday (17/7) between the joint team of the Cartenz-2026 Peace Operation Task Force together with the Yahukimo Police and Kompi 3 Battalion B Pelopor Satbrimob Papua Police also secured three firearms.

"During the implementation of law enforcement operations against the KKB, there was a shootout that killed three KKB members," said Faizal as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, July 18.

The three KKB members who were killed were Roni Rubis, Kumis Passae, and Orgenes Bayage who were part of the KKB Kodap XVI Yahukimo Battalion Yamue.

This operation was a follow-up to the results of the investigation and intelligence information regarding the presence of an armed group led by DPO Ronal Heluka in the Logpon area, KM 4, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency.

From the results of the investigation, it was revealed that the KKB used a resting house in the Logpon area, KM 4, Dekai District, as the location of the activity and after all the information was verified and analyzed, the joint team carried out an operation to prevent the occurrence of armed violence that could potentially threaten the safety of the community.

The KKB member is suspected of being involved in various acts of armed violence in Papua since 2022, including the murder of Pratu Eka Yohan Kaize, Kodim 1715/Yahukimo on December 3, 2022, the shooting of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force patrol car at KM 6 Dekai on May 26, 2023.

Then the burning of the Satbinmas service vehicle of the Yahukimo Police on January 28, 2025, the severe persecution of Ujang Supriayatna on June 17, 2025, and the murder of Indra Guru Wardana accompanied by the burning of houses in Ulakin Village, Asmat Regency, on September 19, 2025.

In addition, there is the case of severe persecution against Suwono which was carried out on February 12, the murder of seven miners in Kawe Village, Awimbon District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, on May 19, and a shootout with TNI personnel accompanied by the burning of buildings in Manggelum District, Boven Digoel Regency, on June 4.

From the scene, the joint team secured a number of evidence, namely three firearms, 43 rounds of 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, two axes, two sharp weapons in the form of long knives, one unit of handy talky (HT) Icom, one gun silencer, seven units of mobile phones of various brands, and a number of other evidence.

"The three bodies have been evacuated to the Dekai Hospital morgue," said Inspector General Faizal.

According to him, the evidence seized from the crime scene is currently at the Yahukimo Police Criminal Investigation Unit for the purpose of investigation.

In addition to securing evidence, officers also secured four people with initials OH, SM, MM, and LM who are currently still being questioned by investigators to further investigate their roles and connections with the KKB.