Indonesian Soldier Killed in Gun Battle with Papuan Insurgents

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS.com - An Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, Private 2nd Class (Prada) Ginanjar Arianda, died in a gun battle with an armed criminal group (KKB) in Mamba Village, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua on Monday, February 15.

Ginanjar, one of the members of the Raider 400 Task Force Team, was shot in his stomach and died during the evacuation to Mimika by helicopter.

"The body was brought to Mimika at around 9:30 am local time and had arrived at the Infantry Brigades (Brigif) unit," said Assistant Chief of Staff for Regional Military Command III Brigadier General Suswatyo in a telephone interview on Monday.

Also read: Armed Group Attacks Government Office, Public Market in Indonesia’s Papua

Suswatyo added that the firefight in Mamba Village took place at 08.20 am. The TNI personnel found a shell with the bullet at the scene.

Suswatyo denied other victims from the gun battle. He also did not provide further details regarding the chronology of the incident.

"There was only a victim and no one else was injured. The location of the incident was in Sugapa District in Intan Jaya Regency where they were involved in gunfire," Suswatyo said.

Also read: Indonesia Condemns West Papua Separatist Declaration

Since January, the armed criminal groups are constantly spreading terror and disturbing the lives of the people in Papua. The brutal acts were continuously carried out in the area, killing not only the security forces but also residents.

Prior to this incident, a TNI member named Private in Charge (Praka) Hendra Sipayung was shot, but he was survived. The police now are continuing to uncover and arrest the KKB and its supporters.

So far, the two groups of armed criminals in Intan Jaya are led by Undius Kogoya and Sabinus Waker. However, the police have not been able to confirm which group was responsible for the brutal actions.

(Writer: Dhias Suwandi | Editors: Robertus Belarminus, Pythag Kurniati)

Sources: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/15/16290801/baku-tembak-tni-vs-kkb-di-intan-jaya-prada-ginanjar-gugur

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/12/18270901/kkb-tembak-seorang-anggota-tni-di-intan-jaya-papua

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/15/16571501/tertembak-di-perut-prada-ginanjar-gugur-dalam-kontak-senjata-kkb-dan-tni