Fatality: Soldiers carry the coffin of Lt
span class="caption">Fatality: Soldiers carry the coffin of Lt. Col. Jhon Eliwod de Fretes at Sentani Airbase in Jayapura, Papua, on Dec. 1. Jhon was shot dead by an armed group in Namuni village, Mamberamo Raya regency, on Nov. 31. Another attack was launched in the province on Sunday, with armed men storming a police station, killing three officers and injuring several others. (Antara/Indrayadi TH).
A group of armed men attacked Sinak Police subprecinct in Puncak regency, Papua, on Sunday night, killing three police officers. Meanwhile, an aircraft carrying Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw was reportedly shot at on Monday.
The Twin Otter plane, owned by Trigana Air, was returning to Jayawijaya regency from Puncak.
As well as killing the three police officers ' First Brig. Ridho, Second Brig. Arman and Second Brig. Ilham --, the attackers also stole weapons from the Sinak Police subprecinct.
National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti confirmed the attack, saying that the police were confident of the identities of the attackers, and were currently hunting for them.
'Given the area in which the incident took place, we can be fairly sure of who the attackers were,' Badrodin said as reported by kompas.com on Monday,
Paulus, meanwhile, told Antara news agency that the attack had occurred at 8:45 p.m.local time, and that a number of other officers had sustained gunshot wounds.
According to Paulus, the attackers made off with seven weapons and various kinds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Suharsono denied that the aircraft carrying Paulus had been hit, but confirmed that the plane's passengers had heard shots.
A number of police officers have fallen victim to shootings by unknown armed groups in Papua in recent years. (bbn)(+)
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