Papuan rebel leader allegedly shot dead in raid: police

Kelly Kwalik, a leader of separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM), is suspected to have died early on Wednesday after being shot in a raid by security authorities.

Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Agus Riyanto confirmed the incident, saying that he was shot during a raid at one of his hiding places in the city of Timika.

Agus told Antara state news agency that Kelly was carrying a gun as he tried to escape when officers raided his place. An officer shot him in his right thigh. Kelly died in Kuala Kencana Hospital in Timika.

The police did not give further details on the raid.

Earlier this year Papua Police held a meeting with Kelly in connection with a series of armed attacks targeting US-based gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia in Mimika.
 
During the secret talks, Kelly claimed he was not responsible for the attacks, which killed four people and injured dozens of others since the first ambush that occurred on July 11.
 
Police have denied allegations that they had set up the talks to justify their findings that local people were behind the violence. At least seven Mimika residents are facing trial in Jayapura for the attacks.