Gold Miner In Papua's Bintang Mountains Killed By Unknown Persons

Evacuation of mining workers from Kawe village, Bintang Mountains Regency to Tanah Merah, Boven Digul Regency, Saturday (12/2) (ANTARA/HO/Police of Bintang Mountains.)

JAKARTA - An unknown group of people (OTK) attacked gold mining workers in Kawe village, Awimbon District, Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua, killing one person and injuring two other workers.

"It is true that there were reports of attacks by OTK on gold mining workers on Saturday, February 12 at the Kali Merah 89 mine," said the Head of the Bintang Mountains Police, AKBP Cahyo Sukarnito, as quoted by Antara, Sunday, February 13.

The police chief, when contacted from Jayapura via his cell phone, admitted that the three victims had been evacuated to Tanah Merah, Boven Digul Regency.

According to reports received, the incident began when four unknown people arrived with sharp weapons, such as machetes, and asked the victims why they worked here, then attacked the workers.

As a result, one person died, namely Yusrianto, while those who were injured were Herman (29 years old) and Febrianto.

When the victim was evacuated to Tanah Merah, Saturday afternoon, said Cahyo, admitting that the mining location was between three districts, namely the Bintang Mountains Regency, Yahukimo and Boven Digul Regency.

"The victims admitted that the gold they produced and collected was confiscated by the perpetrators," admitted AKBP Cahyo.

Kali Merah Mining 89 is one of the mining locations in the Bintang Mountains Regency.