Papua police flew the remains of a migrant died in an armed attack in Puncak Jaya to the West Sumatra capital of Padang for burial on Thursday as efforts to capture the assailants continued.
Spokesman for the Papua police Sr. Comr. Wachyono said Atril Wahidin, 25, died of gunshot wound in his head during the raid on his kiosk in Mulia in Puncak Jaya regency on Wednesday evening. A civilian armed group led by Gobanik Telenggen dan Mathius Murib is said to perpetrate the attack.
Wachyono said the assailants also targeted a motorcycle taxi driver, Irfan, who happened to pass by, but he survived unhurt.
Mobile Brigade personnel and the local police were involved in an exchange of fire against the armed group for about one hour, before the attackers fled to the jungle.
Wachyono said Atril used to work for Mewulok district chief Aneb Murib as a driver.
Earlier on Tuesday, Aneb and his family were ambushed by a group of armed people in Tingginambut area on their way home from Mulia. No one was injured in the attack.
Wachyono said the police remained in the dark about the motive of the two attacks.
The deadly attack quickly sparked fear among local residents of Mulia. “The armed brigands are in town. We feel insecure and are afraid of leaving home at night,” one of the residents, Agus, said Thursday.
Puncak Jaya has seen a series of attacks targeting mostly security personnel and migrants over the last few years.