Tolikara Disturbance Kills Resident: Police Explanation

Tolikara Resort Police have explained the disturbance in Mairini Village, Bokondini District, Tolikara Regency, Papua Pegunungan. The incident occurred on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. One resident was reported dead.

Tolikara Police Chief Commissioner Roberth Hitipeuw stated that during the incident, police personnel attempted to separate the residents who were throwing stones at each other. However, the effort was ignored. “Our personnel fired warning shots into the air,” said Roberth via the WhatsApp messaging application on Friday, 17 April 2026.

According to him, after the warning shots were fired, the clashing residents instead attacked the police. At that time, there were only eight police personnel. The attack caused several police officers to be injured. In addition, residents also seized one firearm, a revolver.

Tolikara Police then deployed additional personnel. The authorities also involved religious figures, customary leaders, and community members to conduct mediation. “The mediation was successful; the situation is now conducive, and the seized firearm has been successfully recovered by the personnel,” he said.

Roberth denied allegations that the police acted arbitrarily, leading to the fatal victim. He said the victim died from a stab wound with a sharp object. “Our personnel also sustained injuries, with details of four personnel with minor injuries from stone throwing, and one personnel with serious injuries from a stab wound with a sharp object,” he stated.

Previously, the Indonesian Evangelical Church Council stated that based on information gathered in the field, a resident named Elky Wunungga was allegedly killed by police gunfire while forcibly dispersing the disturbance. “There was no persuasive effort; they came and shot directly, and the victim fell,” said Indonesian Evangelical Church Council Staff Eneko Bahabol via WhatsApp message on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.

After the shooting incident, the situation in Bokondini District was tense. This was because residents from several villages were on guard and blocked access to the settlements.