Armed Criminal Group Commander Shot Dead During Arrest Attempt in Papua

A joint team comprising the Damai Cartenz Operation Task Force and Yahukimo Police was forced to shoot AP, also known as Y or AS, a member of an armed criminal group (KKB), after he fled into the forest while attempting to evade arrest. AP, who served as the Commander of Operations for the HSSBI Battalion of Kodap XVI Yahukimo, was killed on Wednesday (17/6) in the Logpon KM 7 area, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan.

Kasatgas Humas ODC, Police Grand Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, stated that officers fired two warning shots, but these were ignored, leading to measured action in accordance with standard operating procedures. AP was on the wanted list for suspected involvement in a series of armed attacks in Yahukimo Regency.

Yusuf revealed that AP was allegedly involved in the shooting of Alexander Angket and Naldy Magosa on 28 April, which resulted in Alek sustaining a gunshot wound to the right shoulder and Naldy to the left thigh. He was also suspected of involvement in the shooting of Suhardin in the Ruko Blok A area of Dekai on 30 April, though the bullet missed the victim and struck the speedometer of the motorcycle he was riding.

Prior to the operation, the joint team conducted a search of a house believed to be a base and transit point for HSSBI Kodap XVI Yahukimo members, located behind the Metanoia Church in Dekai. The search yielded one 5.56 mm calibre round, several sharp weapons, bows and arrows, mobile phones, and various equipment linked to the armed group’s activities.

Police also detained a 28-year-old individual identified as HS, who was subsequently questioned regarding the group’s network and activities. HS disclosed that he had stored ammunition believed to have originated from a member of the HSSBI group, providing leads for further investigation into the armed network operating in the Yahukimo region.

Following the search and information gathering, the team received intelligence on AP’s whereabouts in the Pos Kilo 6 area of Dekai District. The target was spotted riding a motorcycle on Jalan Logpon. When officers attempted to stop him, he ignored the order and fled into the forest, abandoning his motorcycle. After a pursuit and two warning shots were disregarded, the team took decisive, measured action in accordance with police procedure. AP was pronounced dead and evacuated to Dekai Regional General Hospital for further processing.