Sahroni Demands Firm Action Over Attack During Drug Raid in Central Kalimantan

House of Representatives Commission III Deputy Chairman Ahmad Sahroni has urged the police to take firm action against the attackers responsible for the death of a police officer during a drug raid in Tumbang Kalemei Village, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan. Sahroni stated that attacks on law enforcement officers must not be tolerated as they can weaken the rule of law. “Respond firmly to such matters; they cannot be allowed. If left unchecked, law enforcement becomes weak and dangerous,” Sahroni said when contacted on Friday. Sahroni also urged the National Police not to be complacent and to prepare every field operation thoroughly. He expressed confidence that the police are capable of conducting drug eradication operations in a better manner, thus avoiding clashes with residents. “Police must not be careless about routine raids; properly assess the conditions on the ground and prepare meticulously. I believe the National Police can do this in a much better way without having to go to war against residents,” he said. A member of the Katingan Police Narcotics Unit, Aipda Yudhie Perdana Putra, died during a raid on a drug dealer in Tumbang Kalemei Village, Central Katingan District, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan. The Director of Narcotics Crime at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, explained that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the Katingan Police Narcotics Unit followed up on public information regarding the alleged circulation of methamphetamine in Tumbang Kalemei Village. Eko said the investigation led to an operational target with the initials BIO, who was known to be a repeat offender in narcotics cases. A total of 12 personnel were deployed for the operation. The police then split into two groups, with the first team conducting the arrest at the target’s house while the second team stood by at another location as a support element. “During the arrest process, the target was successfully secured. However, the situation changed when several people inside the house and surrounding residents fought back using sharp weapons such as machetes,” Eko said in a written statement on Thursday. At that point, the situation escalated as the mob grew and launched attacks using sharp weapons and homemade firearms. The situation then became increasingly uncontrollable. Officers attempted to save themselves while requesting reinforcements. Several personnel were forced to swim across a river and take shelter in a forested area to avoid the mob’s rampage. Eko said Aipda Yudhie was later found dead from sharp weapon injuries. “In the incident, Aipda Yudhie was found dead with wounds from a sharp weapon. Meanwhile, Aiptu Sumaryanto and Bripda Nopandri Ramadhana are still being searched for by the joint team,” he said.