O

nly days before Christmas, the National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism unit arrested two suspected terrorists in two separate regencies in East Java on Sunday and Monday. The suspects were reportedly part of a group trained by the late terrorist Dulmatin.

One of the two, identified as Adi Margono, 45, was arrested near his residence in the Brawijaya Permai housing complex in Krajan, Banyuwangi regency, on Monday evening.

Banyuwangi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tri Bisono Sumiharso confirmed Margono's arrest.

'The suspect was then taken to Jakarta for further investigation. He was arrested without resistance,' Tri Bisono told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Tri Bisono, however, declined to divulge any details about Margono's case. 'I don't have the authority to speak about the matter. Let's just wait for more developments from the National Police headquarters,' he said.

The head of the suspect's neighborhood unit, Asmoro, stated that the suspect had been living in the housing complex for four years with his wife and three children.

'I was surprised when I was told about his arrest on Monday night. Densus 88 did not inform us about it,' Asmoro said as quoted by Antara news agency.

According to Asmoro, the suspect had been working as a businessman selling crackers made from fish. 'He was always polite to neighbors and would participate in activities in the neighborhood. I never suspected he was a terrorism suspect,' Asmoro said.

On Sunday, Densus 88 also arrested another alleged terrorist, identified as Tony Sangaralo, 26, who used the aliases of Toni, Amir, Fadhil and Abu Sauqi, in Lamongan regency.

Tony had been on the police's wanted list for his alleged role in planning a training program under Dulmatin in Jantho, Aceh.

The suspect was working as a chicken seller when he was arrested at the Bandeng three-way intersection in Glagah. He used to live in the Kalimalang hamlet of Glagah subdistrict, Lamongan district, East Java. His arrest was also reported to have taken place without resistance.

Tri Bisono said he could not confirm any connection between Margono and Tony.

Dulmatin, an electronics specialist, was a top bomb technician for the Southeast Asian militant group Jamaah Islamiyah. Authorities say he helped plan the suicide bombings that ripped apart two nightclubs in Bali and killed 202 people in 2002. Dulmatin was killed in a shootout in Jakarta in 2010.

Earlier this year, Densus 88 also arrested a terror suspect in Purworejo regency in Central Java. The suspected terrorist, identified as Chandra, was apprehended in September for allegedly providing shelter to Dr. Azhari and Nurdin M. Top, who were implicated in the first Bali bombing.