The police officers featured in the photo are believed to be members of the Anti-Bandit Special Team (Tekab) 308 under the Bandar Lampung Police. The photo, which has gone viral on the web, has drawn criticism from netizens, who have called it “inhumane.”  

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Rikwanto confirmed that officers from the Lampung Police had shot dead the five alleged motorcycle thieves, locally known as begal. Begal are usually armed and notoriously violent.  

“The thieves resisted arrested, forcing the police to fire,” he said at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“The officer had no intention of taking the picture. The bodies were put on the grass as there were mortuary workers waiting. It was spontaneous and under no one’s order.”

He said the picture was shared in a closed Whatsapp group and should not have been uploaded on social media. “It is inappropriate, even though it was a successful operation. The police’s internal affairs division is now investigating the incident,” he said.

The police, Rikwanto said, would like to apologize to the public, particularly the people of Lampung, for the offensive picture. (dis/ary)

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