Two policemen shot dead by assailant in South Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Police officers on Wednesday continued a security sweep of the Kuala Batee district in South Aceh after two policemen were shot dead by an unknown man on Tuesday.

"They pound on doors at any given time and search our houses in an effort to find the man suspected of killing their colleagues on Tuesday. The terror continues unabated," a local said on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses said two armed police officers were shot by an unidentified man as they got out of a car at the Kota Bahagia market place.

"The attacker also stole a long rifle from their victims," an eyewitness, who did not want to be identified, said.

The victims were identified as Sgt. Satualiko and Sgt. Sarwan, both from the Kuala Batee Police precinct.

Minutes after the shooting, a group of policemen from the National Police's Mobile Brigade arrived on the scene and began combing the area.

"The furious officers burned eight motorcycles parked at the market place and fired shots in the air," claimed an eyewitness, who said he was terrified upon seeing them.

Chief of South Aceh Police Lt. Col. Degu Keumala confirmed the shooting of the two policemen. He refused to comment about the rifle stolen by the attacker.

He said he had not yet received a report when queried about the burning of the eight motorcycles.

Student volunteers also claimed that angry policemen burned their command post.

"The building was only partially burned, but all our documents were destroyed in the fire," coordinator of the Wakampas student volunteers Agus Riyadi said. (50/sur)