inp.polri.go.id - Wamena. The 2026 Damai Cartenz Operations Task Force together with the Jayawijaya Sub-regional Police, Battalion B of the Papua Mobile Brigade Unit and the Indonesian National Military (TNI) Habema Koops Task Force moved quickly to follow up on the alleged murder of a man on the Wamena–Mbua road with the initials AS (41), Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Mountains, Tuesday (9/15/2026).
The incident occurred when the AS departed from Ilekma for Mbua carrying food supplies and nine passengers. At around 08.30 a.m, the group was suspected of being ambushed by an armed group in the Habema area.
Head of the 2026 Damai Cartenz Operations Public Relations Task Force, Senior Superintendent Yusuf Sutejo, explained that the initial report was received from the public who were lane transportation passengers. Following up on this report, personnel from the Task Force immediately carried out searches around the location until evening.
"At night we carried out a search. However, because of the thick fog, we have not found the position of the vehicle. What we found was only the remains of the passengers' belongings that were left behind," said Yusuf when interviewed, Wednesday (9/16/2026).
On Wednesday (16/9/2026) morning, the TNI Habema Koops Task Force swept the location where they found a car on the edge of a ravine about 13 meters deep from the road shoulder, burnt. Inside the vehicle, the victim was also found burned.
Receiving this information, the 2026 Damai Cartenz Operations Task Force together with the Jayawijaya Sub-regional Police and Battalion B of the Papua Mobile Brigade Unit immediately responded and went to the Crime Scene (TPTKP) and investigated the crime scene.
"During the crime scene investigation, the victim's body was found burned. Apart from that, one 5.56 millimeter long-barreled ammunition casing was found and a bag containing the victim's identity," explained Yusuf.
After the crime scene processing was complete, the victim's body was then evacuated to Wamena Regional Hospital for an external post-mortem examination by doctors and medical personnel. After the examination was completed, the body was handed over to the family.
"Next, we carried out investigative steps and an identification process to find out the perpetrators in this incident," he said.
Regarding the alleged involvement of a specific group, Yusuf stated that his team was still investigating information obtained in the field. One piece of information being investigated points to a group from the Ndugama III Regional Military Command, which was said to be near the scene of the incident.
He emphasized that regarding the claim that the driver of the public transport was a member of the security forces' intelligence, this information was not true.
Currently, the 2026 Damai Cartenz Operations Police Task Force, along with the TNI Habema Operations Task Force, and related units, are continuing their investigation into the series of events, including the alleged ambush, robbery, murder, and vehicle arson, and are identifying those responsible.
2026 Damai Cartenz Operations ensures that any acts of violence against the community will be handled through a professional, measured law enforcement process based on applicable legal provisions, while prioritizing the protection and safety of the community.
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