Palu sect leader Madi remains on the loose<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
While police have named 11 members of what authorities are
\ncalling a "deviant" religious sect as suspects in the killing of
\nthree police officers during a clash last week in Central
\nSulawesi, they have still been unable to arrest sect leader Madi.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said officers
\nmade the latest arrest in the case on Monday, detaining a suspect
\nidentified as Marsuna, 47, who is now being held at Central
\nSulawesi Police Headquarters.<\/p>\n
Ten of the 11 suspects in the killings are now in police
\ncustody.<\/p>\n
Soenarko said Marsuna was accused of participating in the
\nassault on the police officers along with other members of the
\nMadi sect (not Mahdi as previously reported).<\/p>\n
"We are still searching for Madi. The main obstacle is the
\ndifficult terrain, but Madi is wounded so he cannot have gotten
\nfar," the officer said.<\/p>\n
At least 127 other Madi followers, comprising 42 men, 40 women
\nand 45 children, have turned themselves into the police,
\naccording to Soenarko.<\/p>\n
Last week's clash occurred when 16 officers went to the
\nmountainous Gawalise area near Palu to detain the 27-year-old
\nMadi for spreading heretical Islamic beliefs.<\/p>\n
Dozens of Madi's followers reportedly became violent when the
\nofficers attempted to detain the sect leader. Wielding machetes
\nand sickles, the sect members attacked the officers. Three
\npolicemen and two sect members died in the violence.<\/p>\n
The next day police launched a massive operation to arrest
\nMadi and his followers, who were reportedly holding several
\nofficers hostage.<\/p>\n
Over 300 heavily armed police officers, assisted by a
\nhelicopter, took part in the operation. Three officers were found
\nalive in a forest near the hamlet of Salena, where the sect is
\nhoused. However, Madi was able to elude arrest.<\/p>",
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