farmer from Lobu village in Parigi Moutong district, Central Sulawesi, was shot dead by a suspected member of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group on Thursday.
The farmer, identified as Simson, aka Suju, 30, was found dead on his farm by a fellow farmer who had previously seen a group of gunmen standing beside his body, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said.
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Rudy said information about Simson’s death was first received from a woman identified only as YI, who was the witness' daughter. YI told the police that her father had called to inform her that he had seen Simson’s body on the ground near a group of gunmen.
“The gunmen did not see my father, who was on a farm next to Simson’s,” YI said as quoted by Rudy.
According to Rudy, YI said that, after seeing the horrifying scene, her father fled to a nearby village when he later heard one gunshot fired.
The gunmen wore civilian clothes and had long hair, said Rudy. “From the characteristics described, they were likely MIT members."
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Rudy also said the police had detected the arrival of MIT members near a mountain close to Simson’s farm. He said police officers had been deployed to the area.
The Central Sulawesi Police continue to hunt down MIT members after the Tinambola joint-operation killed the group’s leader, Santoso, aka Abu Wardah. (saf/bbs)
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