Indonesia Steps up Hunt for Notorious Terrorist in Central Sulawesi

A police billboard shows a list of individuals, including the country's top militant Santoso (top L), wanted in relation with terrorism cases in Poso, — A police billboard shows a list of individuals, including the country’s top militant Santoso (top L), wanted in relation with terrorism cases in Poso.

Jakarta, 02 Jumadil Akhir 1437/11 March 2016 ( MINA) – Indonesian has increased efforts to hunt for a leading terrorist group in Central Sulawesi province, National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti told reporters on Thursday.

The operation, which supposedly ended on Wednesday, has been extended for another two months and would involve elite troops of Indonesia’s special force command, he said.

The militant group is led by high profile of militant Santoso and has implicated in several terrorist strikes in the province and other areas, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Xinhua.

“We have asked military commander to assist this operation,” Badrodin said at the national police headquarters.

The operation was first launched on January 10, according to the police.

Police Chief of Central Sulawesi Province Brigadier General Rudy Sufahriadi added that the police would cooperate with the elite troops on hunting Santoso and his group members in deep forest in the province.

Several members of the group were allegedly linked with the suicide bombings at the heart of Jakarta in January that killed four civilians and wounded 26 others. (R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)