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n armed group shot dead four workers of PT Modern who were constructing a highway connecting Sinak district, Puncak regency, and Mulia district in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua, on Tuesday.

Police recovered the bodies and transferred them on Wednesday using a Trigana Air plane to the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Jayapura, the capital of the province, for post mortem examination.

Police said that they were still investigating the fatal shooting and hunting the perpetrators.

The bodies were handed over to their families. Anis, one of the victims, would be buried in his hometown in Toraja, South Sulawesi, while the remaining victims, Daud, David and Andi, would be buried in Tablasupa, Depare, Jayapura.

Papuan councilor Yan Mandenas urged the local administrations to support the security authorities in solving cases of armed attack against civilians and bring the perpetrators to justice. '€œDevelopers who are conducting the projects should also communicate with locals to avoid misunderstandings and other problems,'€ said Yan, who is a member of the People'€™s Conscience Party.

After the attack, the construction of the highway was reportedly temporarily halted.