Inp.polri.go.id - Jayapura. Papua Regional Police Chief Inspector General Patrige Renwarin, confirmed there were no fatalities in the violence between supporters of rival candidates in Puncak Jaya, Central Papua, during the 2024 regional elections.
"While there were no deaths, three people were evacuated to Jayapura for medical treatment," he said in a statement on Wednesday (27/11/2024), as quoted by antaranews.com.
The clashes, which began after the candidate number drawn by the General Elections Commission (KPU) of Puncak Jaya, also resulted in 40 homes being burned and 94 people injured.
"On Wednesday morning, one of the supporters took ballot boxes from several villages, which led to further violence," Chief Patrige explained.
The stolen ballots affected villages including Kampung Birak Ambut, Wuyukwi, Pepera, Towogi, Wuyuneri, the Kelurahan Pagaleme and Wuyukwi.
Police were in talks with the candidates, KPU, and election oversight body Bawaslu to ensure the violence did not spread further.
(mg/inp/pr/nm)