Constrained By The Weather, Members Of The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) Victims Of The KKB Shooting In Puncak Papua Regency Have Not Been Evacuated

Residents' houses that became the mess of employees of PT. The MTT in Wago village, Ilaga, Puncak Regency, was burned by the KKB. (ANTARA/HO/Peak Police)

PAPUA - Two victims of a shooting by an armed criminal group (KKB) in Ilaga, Puncak Regency, Papua, to Timika have not been evacuated due to weather constraints.

"It is true that the two shooting victims, Praka Hermansyah, members of the TNI-AU Kopasgat/Paskhas and Glenn Sumampow, have not been evacuated due to weather constraints," said Danrem 173/PVB Brigadier General Taufan Gastoro when contacted by Antara, Sunday, February 20.

Taufan added that initially the two victims were scheduled to be evacuated using a Caracal helicopter belonging to the Indonesian Air Force, but due to unfriendly weather, the plan was postponed.

"Hopefully Monday, the weather will be clear so that the evacuation can be carried out," hoped Brigadier General Taufan. He said the two victims were shot by KKB in two different locations.

Initially, Praka Hermansyah, who was securing Aminggaru Airport, Ilaga, Saturday morning at around 07.35 WIT was fired upon, resulting in a shootout. Meanwhile, Glenn Sumampow was shot in the afternoon.

In addition to shooting, KKB also burned the houses of residents who were employees of PT Martha Tunggal Tehnik (MTT) in Wako village.

The burning of the houses of residents and the dormitory of PT MTT's employees occurred around 16.45 WIT. There were no fatalities in the incident.

Previously, on January 27, three TNI-AD soldiers died in a shootout with KKB in Gome District, Puncak Regency. Gome District is one of the districts or sub-districts in Puncak Regency, Papua.