Police shoot two in Merauke spat

MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: A street quarrel between two policemen and two civilians here on Monday resulted in the shooting of the latter.

Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. SY Wenas confirmed the shooting on Wednesday, saying it was due to a misunderstanding.

The shooting started when the two civilians, who were on night patrol at a security post at 8 p.m. local time, stopped a noisy motorcycle ridden by the two policemen.

One of the officers shot the civilians in the thigh and buttocks respectively.

"We have instructed the Merauke Police chief to probe the case thoroughly." Wenas added the officers were in police detention. (eba)