4 Police Shot During Employee Evacuation Post-KKB Attack in Papua

A total of four police personnel were allegedly shot while evacuating 11 employees of PT Indo Papua who were trapped after the attack by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) around the Trans Papua area, Dekai, Yahukimo. The police were shot because they were hit by a rebound or the reflection of a bullet during gunfire during the evacuation process which was carried out on Monday, August 23 yesterday. "Arriving at the scene of the Kali Braza bridge, the group was fired upon from the hill opposite the Brazza River. The Nemangkawi Task Force personnel returned fire," said Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Kombes Ahmad Musthofa Kamal to reporters, Jakarta, Tuesday (24/8/2021). The victim who was shot, namely AKP I Putu Edi Wirawan, was hit by a reset in the neck. Then, Iptu Arif Rahmat was hit by a shot in the helmet. Then, Brigadier Irwan who was injured in the right leg and Bharatu Nimrot in the right hand. Kamal explained that the gunfight occurred when members found a suspicious car that was about to drive towards the city at around 08.35 WIT. The police then confiscated three mobile phones from the car for further investigation. A few minutes later, a shooting occurred at the Kali Brazza bridge. Gunfire at this location lasted for approximately one hour. Until, at around 10.24 WIT, a second gun battle took place at the fork in the Trans Papua Dekai Yahukimo road in the direction of Tanah Merah. The police trip was stopped because of a fallen tree and a two-wheeled motorized vehicle that did not have a police number. "Personnel cut wood with senso to pave the way and continue the journey," said Kamal. Kamal said that the search process around the Kali Yegi Camp was only successfully carried out at 11.48 WIT. The police, he said, sounded the siren so that employees detained in the area could come out of hiding in the forest and be evacuated. On the way, said Kamal, the police still found about six trees that were uprooted to block the road. The employees who were protecting themselves, called Kamal, were evacuated only in the afternoon. "At 15.30 WIT, about 500 meters from the Main Camp of PT. Indo Papua, the Nemangkawi Task Force personnel found PT. Indo Papua employees who had saved themselves on the edge of the Braza River at a local resident's house, then the team secured the vehicle and brought it to the Yahukimo Police Headquarters, " said Kamal. According to Kamal, the victims who were shot during gunfire have received medical treatment. There were no casualties in the rescue operation. "Joint personnel will continue to take firm action against groups that disrupt security stability in Papua," said Kamal. It is known, the evacuation was carried out after two workers on a bridge construction project in the area were allegedly killed on Sunday (22/8) by a separatist group that has been labeled as terrorists by the government. SOURCE: https://national.okezone.com/read/2021/08/24/337/2460143/4-polisi-tertembak-saat-evakuasi-karyawan-pasca-serangan-kkb-di-papua