Inp.polri.go.id - Jayapura. Security forces in Papua were unable to evacuate gold miners reportedly shot dead by an armed separatist group in Bingki, Yahukimo Regency, after coming under fire during an attempted mission.

“When officers tried to reach Bingki, they were attacked by the armed group, triggering a firefight that forced us to cancel the operation,” said Brigadier General Faizal Rahmadani, the Commander of the Damai Cartenz Task Force, on Tuesday (23/9/2025), as reported by antaranews.com.

He added that efforts to resume the mission the following morning were further hampered by heavy rain, which made river crossings too dangerous. Officials hope conditions will improve to allow forces to secure the area and recover the bodies.

Preliminary information suggests five miners were killed in two separate locations, though the exact number of victims remains unconfirmed. Bingki has previously been the site of deadly attacks, including an April assault that left 16 gold miners dead.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)