Soldiers take part in a ceremony on Dec. 12, 2023 at Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar regency, Aceh, prior to their deployment to Papua on a security operation. - AFP
JAKARTA: The local police chief confirmed on Monday (April 8) that a shootout between members of an armed criminal group (KKB) and personnel of the joint police-military Cartenz Peace Operation had resulted in the death of one child with another injured in Sugapa, Intan Jaya regency, Central Papua.
"It is true. On Monday, there was [an exchange of] gunfire that resulted in the shooting of two children, one of whom died,” Intan Jaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Afrizal Asri said on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
“According to reports, initially at around 2p.m., the KKB opened fire at a police Mobile Brigade [Brimob] post next to the Papua Regional Development Bank office in Sugapa and was met with [return fire] from [the operation’s] members, leading to a shootout."
Afrizal identified the victims as 12-year-old Nando Duwitau, who was killed, and six-year-old Nopina Duwitau. Nando’s body was released to family members for burial, while Nopina was medvaced on Tuesday to Nabire for medical treatment.
According to Cartenz Peace Operation task force commander Sr. Comr. Faizal Ramadhani, members of a KKB led by Undius Kogoya had carried out the attack in a bid to free fellow member Bui Wonda, alias Bossman Wenda, after he was detained earlier on Monday, Tempo.com reported
Faizal added that the task force would pursue the attackers and continue its investigation into Bui Wonda. During a shootout on April 4 in Mimika regency, Central Papua, security personnel killed two members of an armed group, including its leader Abu Bakar Kogoya. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
