Police officer shot dead in accident

MEDAN: First Brig. Leo Sitanggang, a police officer in Medan, North Sumatra, has been reportedly shot dead by a colleague on Tuesday morning.

The accident took place in the Medan Police’s Padang Bulan barracks in Medan. It was reported that First Brig. Ikhsan Fuadi was cleaning his SS1-V2 assault rifle when he accidently fired it, shooting Leo in the eye. Leo died at the scene at about 10:45 a.m.

North Sumatra Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Heru Prakoso said that Ikhsan had recently returned from escorting a shipment to Aceh and was not aware that there was a bullet in the chamber.

“First Brig. Ikhsan Fuadi accidently pulled the trigger when cleaning the rifle and hit First Brig. Leo Sitanggang’s right eye and penetrated the skull,” he told The Jakarta Post, adding Ikhsan was still being questioned.  (nvn)