DPR Member Demands Severe Punishment for Attackers in Katingan Police Killings
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Martin Tumbelaka, a member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has demanded that the perpetrators of the attack against police officers during a drug raid in Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, which resulted in the deaths of three officers, be punished as severely as possible.
He strongly condemned the event that led to the loss of the officers. According to him, the resistance offered by the perpetrators against law enforcement officials cannot be tolerated.
“Once arrested, ensure they are given the heaviest possible sentence to create a deterrent effect. There must be no compromise for those who kill state officials,” Martin stated in Jakarta on Monday.
He also urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. He emphasised that investigators must not stop at merely arresting those who physically carried out the attack on the ground.
“Find out who provoked the residents, who hid the perpetrators, and where these individuals obtained their improvised firearms. The crime ecosystem in that village must be completely dismantled,” he said.
He reminded that the highest leadership of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) has committed to the war against drugs, instructing all ranks to take firm and measured action against drug dealers and kingpins.
“The state must not retreat or be defeated by drug syndicates or groups of people who protect crime,” Martin added.
Previously, the Narcotics Crime Directorate (Dittipidnarkoba) of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) would provide backup in handling drug cases in Central Kalimantan after Katingan Police personnel, Aipda Yudhi Perdana Putra, died during a drug lord raid.
The Director of Narcotics Crime (Dirtipidnarkoba) of Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, stated in Jakarta on Thursday (2/7) that in addition to one fallen officer, there were two other personnel, namely Aiptu Sumaryanto and Bripda Nopandri Ramadhana, who had not been found during the operation.
Later, the two missing personnel were found by a joint search and rescue team in a river current in the area. Consequently, a total of three police officers died during the drug case exposure in Katingan.