Two police killed in grenade blast

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two members of the police's elite Mobile Brigade were killed after a grenade exploded at their rented room in Cimanggis, Depok on Monday, police say.

The officers were identified as Second Brig. Nimrot Batubara and Adj. Second Brig. Amri Turnip.

Their bodies were admitted to Sukanto Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for an autopsy.

The explosion at about 5:45 a.m. shook the neighborhood.

Contradicting an earlier statement, the men's squad commander Insp. Gen. SY Wenas said the pair had returned from Aceh last month.

Depok Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Raja Erizman was quoted as saying by Detikcom that the two men had "just returned" from the tsunami-devastated province.

Wenas said he believed the grenade had been found by one of the officers and had exploded by accident.

Investigators had questioned the third roommate, who had avoided the explosion because he was out jogging at the time, he said.

The witness, identified only as Lembong, said Batubara found the Korean-made grenade on Sunday but did not reveal where.

He had not handed the grenade in immediately to headquarters as was required because it was already late in the evening and had planned to do so first thing on Monday, Lembong said.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono speculated it was possible the pair were suffering from stress after a long tour of duty.

"We can't decide yet whether it was a suicide (or something else) as our officers are still investigating the case. One of the officers apparently pulled the safety pen off (the grenade) and dropped it," Tjiptono said.

If the grenade was a police weapon in Aceh it should have been returned to the armory when they got home, he said.

However, Wenas dismissed the idea. "All our members are required to undergo health checks upon their return ... those who are found with psychological illnesses are treated and not allowed to carry arms.

"The two were healthy ... they were not playing with the grenade, it probably dropped from their grasp and exploded by itself."