Police Call Papuan KKB Shoot One Family in Ilaga
Police said the incident occurred shortly after KKB shot and killed a construction worker named Hebel Halenti (30) in the area of Eromaga, Ilaga. Illustration of a shot. (Istock/sandsun)
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia -- The Armed Criminal Group (KKB) is suspected of having shot and killed a family of five in the Erogama Village, Ilaga, Puncak Regency, Papua on Thursday (3/6).
"The victims who died were the family of the Nipurlema village head, on behalf of Petianus Kogoya," said Head of the Nemangkawi Operations Public Relations Task Force, Kombes Iqbal Alqudusy to reporters, Friday (4/6).
He said that the incident occurred shortly after KKB shot and killed a builder named Hebel Halenti (30) in the area of Eromaga, Ilaga as well. According to him, until now the victim has not been able to evacuate from the crime scene (TKP) due to gunfire around Ilaga Airport some time ago.
"The victim is still in Eromaga and cannot be evacuated yet," he said.
Also read: Not only Papua Ilaga Airport, KKB is called Burning Residents' Houses
Iqbal explained that as a result of the incident, people living in 10 villages in the Eromaga area fled to Kunga to avoid armed separatist groups who had been labeled as terrorists by the government.
"The Indonesian National Police are currently pursuing the perpetrators of the shooting of the Eromaga community," he said.
Until this news was revealed, Spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom, had not directly confirmed the shooting incident. He stated that he had received a report regarding this matter but could not disclose it directly.
"Okay, we'll tell you this afternoon, please wait," said Sebby to CNNIndonesia.com.
The Ilaga area has been voiced as the location of the war by the OPM against the TNI-Polri apparatus. This location is said to be far from the reach of civilians.
Also read: Paskhas-KKB Shooting Contact, Ilaga Airport Tower on fire
The TNI admitted that it had no problem with the location of the war. In fact, the Head of Information for the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) III TNI, Colonel CZI IGN Suriastawa, stated that the TNI and Polri are ready to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.
The shooting contact between the KKB and the TNI-Polri has been unavoidable since early 2021. The situation escalated after KKB shot dead the head of the Papuan Regional State Intelligence Agency (Kabinda), Brigadier General I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha. After that, the government immediately took a stand and designated KKB as a terrorist.