Kompolnas Urges Police to Thoroughly Investigate Drug Case in Katingan That Killed Three Officers

The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) has urged the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to thoroughly investigate a drug case in Katingan, Central Kalimantan, which led to the deaths of three members of the Katingan Police. Commissioner Choirul Anam stated that this incident must become a new spirit to intensify the eradication of narcotics and should not stop at field-level perpetrators. He insisted the investigation must go up the chain to the drug bosses and the entire distribution network. He also called for a full inquiry into the cause of death of the three personnel during the operation. The three officers, who received posthumous exceptional promotions, were First Inspector (Anumerta) Sumariyanto, Chief Police Brigadier (Anumerta) Yudhie Perdana Putra, and Police Brigadier (Anumerta) Nopandri Ramadhana. The incident began on Wednesday, 1 July, after the Katingan Police narcotics unit received a public tip about the circulation of methamphetamine in Tumbang Kalemei village. Investigations led to a suspect with the initials BIO, a repeat drug offender. When the team arrived at the location in the early hours of Thursday to make an arrest, they faced resistance using sharp weapons. The situation escalated when the suspect’s family and several residents allegedly attacked the officers with sharp weapons, homemade firearms, and other dangerous objects. The narcotics team attempted to withdraw and requested backup from the Katingan Police and Central Katingan Sector Police. During the evacuation, nine personnel were successfully rescued, but three police officers lost their lives in the line of duty.