Four nabbed in Poso over shooting

Four nabbed in Poso over shooting

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu

Central Sulawesi Police have arrested four people charged with
discharging firearms at Jhonli Tumbelaka, a sales executive with
cigarette maker PT Djarum, in Parigi Moutong regency.

The four were nabbed on Wednesday in three separate
subdistricts in Poso Pesisir, Poso regency, which neighbors
Parigi Moutong.

The police confiscated two guns, a rifle and 33 nine
millimeter and .38 caliber bullets, as well as three motorcycles.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said on
Thursday that the four were arrested after a tip-off from local
residents.

"The residents saw the suspects' motorcycles after the
shooting and called the police. We tracked down the owner of the
motorcycle, which led us to the other suspected perpetrators,"
said Taufik, adding that police were tracking down two other
members of the gang.

He also said investigators were questioning the four as to the
motive behind the attack, in which Tumbelaka sustained a severe
gunshot wound.

The police will also question the four suspects in connection
with the recent shooting of Reverend Susianti Tinulele, who was
shot dead while delivering a sermon at Effata Church in South
Palu.

The two shootings are thought to be part of a series of
attacks aimed at undermining the government-sponsored peace deal,
which ended a sectarian conflict that erupted in 2000 in Poso.
The three-year bloodshed claimed the lives of about 2,000 Muslims
and Christians.

While the situation has become relatively calm, sporadic armed
attacks still continue, generally thought to be perpetrated by
third parties with a political agenda.