O

nly two days after the killings of a soldier and two civilians in Paniai regency, Papua, another civilian was stabbed to death and left on the streets of Jayapura in the latest episode of violence in the province.

The victim was identified as Eva Cristianty, 23, who was the wife of First Sergeant Mohammad Mahdi, of the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) Regional Military Command (Kodam) XVII Cendrawasih, who was assigned to Jayapura.

Her body was found on the side of the street linking the Kodam building and Jayapura’s Mayor Office by First Pvt. Mohson, who was on duty at the Detachment Division’s Security Unit of Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, at around 6:30 a.m. on Monday.

“The witness was heading to his work place located at the Regional Military Command headquarters when he saw a body lying on the street between the Mayor’s Office and the Kodam building. He [Mohson] reported his finding to the security guards at Kodam,” said Jayapura Police chief AKBP Alfred Papare, adding that case was later reported to the city police.

Alfred said there was a suspicion that where the body was found was not the scene of the crime, adding that the victim may have been killed in another location before being taken to the said street.

“Our presumption was the street was not the crime scene because we found nothing there but the body. There were no signs of blood or any other evidence that showed that she was murdered there,” Alfred said.

The victim sustained injuries to the neck, left temple and wrists. The body was later taken to the regional hospital, RSUD Dok II Jayapura.

“We are still investigating the motive of the killing,” said Afred.

The death of Evi increased the number of murders in the region. Previously, three people — one soldier and two civilians — were killed in Ndeotadi village in Bogobaida district, Paniai regency.

The identified victims were chief warrant officer Sunaryo, 51, a member of Paniai Military District Command; and two civilians, Rosmini, 28, and Aco, 18. They were also found with wounds all over their bodies.

An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver, Ahmad Zaini, 35, was also killed by an unidentified group of people in Siepkosi village, Walelagama district, while another individual was injured but managed to escape the attack.