Security personnel tracked down five members of the group who refused to turn themselves in and instead began firing.
member of an unidentified armed group was killed in a gun battle with authorities in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, on Friday, the National Police have announced.
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Asep Adi Saputra said a shootout broke out as the Jayawijaya police and military personnel were searching for men they believed to have fired gunshots heard by residents near Jimawa traditional market on Thursday.
They were able to track down five members of the group, who refused to turn themselves in and instead began firing their weapons, Asep said.
“One member died on the spot, while the remaining four escaped. As they ran away, they continued to shoot at our personnel. One police officer and Public Order Agency officer were wounded," Asep told reporters at the Jayawijaya Police headquarters.
He added the police had yet to identify the group as they were still searching for the other four members.
The firefight took place amid an internet blackout imposed by the Communications and Information Ministry since Wednesday in Papua and West Papua, following days of protests across the provinces.
People took to the streets on Monday morning to protest against racism suffered by Papuan students during a clash over the weekend in Surabaya, East Java.
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