Irfan Maulana aka Akil turned himself in to authorities on Friday evening in Tamanjeka of Poso Pesisir subdistrict in Poso, Central Sulawesi, Operation Tinombala task force spokesman Adj. Sr. Cmr. Hari Suprapto said on Friday.

Irfan had surrendered because he could no longer stand hiding in the forests with Santoso and his supporters, as the group's logistics routes had been severed by security personnel, Hari said.

A member of Operation Tinombala, speaking on condition of anonymity, told thejakartapost.com that Irfan had gone to his father-in-law's house in Tamanjeka, telling his family that he wanted to turn himself in.

Irfan's father-in-law then contacted Tamanjeka village chief Muhammad Sambara, who in turn called a member of the Operation Tinombala task force in Poso Pesisir, asking him to come to Tamanjeka to discuss the surrender modalities.

The family and security personnel then apparently agreed to have Irfan picked up in a nearby plantation area at dawn to avoid attention from other residents.

Security personnel had brought Irfan to Operation Tinombala's security post in Poso Pesisir before taking him to the State Intelligence Agency (BIN)'s post in Poso, said the source.

The surrender of one of the suspected terrorists on a police wanted list leaves another 26 alleged members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin group on the list, Hari said.

Security officials suspect that the group has split in three. One lead by Santoso, the other two groups lead by Basri aka Bagong and Ali Ahmad aka Ali Kalora, respectively.

Operation Tinombala, which involves at least 3,500 Police and Military personnel, was launched in January as a renewed effort to capture Santoso and his followers, who are believed to be hiding in mountainous areas of Poso. (rin)

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