Abducted police officer found dead in Bireuen

Abducted police officer found dead in Bireuen

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): A police officer from Jeumpa station
who had gone missing since last Monday was found dead on Sunday
morning, dumped at an intersection in Cot Gapu village, Bireuen
regency.

"Pvt. Sofyan A. Gani was abducted by armed rebels in Cot Uno
village on Monday," North Aceh Police chief Supt. Abadan Bangko
said on Sunday, adding that the victim had been assaulted.

Abadan said Sofyan was abducted when he and his wife were
riding on a motorcycle to visit his parents in Bireuen.

"They were intercepted by armed rebels, who later ordered his
wife to return home," he said.

Meanwhile, a bomb and two grenades rocked a police station and
a local religious affairs building in the restive province on
Saturday, leaving five officers injured.

West Aceh Police Chief Supt. Arief Sumarman accused members of
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) of having thrown a grenade at the
Kaway XVI Police station, injuring three police officers.

A similar incident took place earlier in the day at a traffic
police post in Panton Labu area, North Aceh, leaving two duty
officers injured.

Supt. Abadan Bangko said the suspects were two armed rebels on
a motorcycle.

The explosions were the latest in a series of attacks on
police buildings. Baiturrahman Police station in Banda Aceh was
rocked by a homemade bomb on Monday. On Wednesday, Kutamakmur
Police station was sprayed with bullets.

Also on Saturday, a homemade bomb exploded at a local
Religious Affairs office in Meuraksa district, Banda Aceh
mayoralty, damaging the door and shattering the windows.

On Thursday, a bomb exploded in a building housing the
Environmental Impact Management Agency and the National Land
Agency. On Friday, the Public Works Agency in Setui village, Aceh
Besar regency, was set alight.

The police are claiming GAM guerrillas are behind the attacks.
No arrests have been made

Separately, East Aceh Police chief Supt. Abdulah Hayati said
that a Mobile Police (Brimob) officer and a civilian died, and
seven others were injured, on Saturday evening, when a police
patrol unit was ambushed in Paya Meuligoe village, Peureulak
district, East Aceh regency.

"GAM members fired at three truckloads of 60 patrolling
personnel passing through the village," Hayati said.

East Aceh GAM commander Abu Kalifah confirmed that the
movement was involved in the attack, but said the police and
military were conducting a military operation.

"We attacked the security personnel when they were launching a
military operation in the village. Not patrolling," he said.
(50/lup)