Police Confirm Santoso Shot Dead

Palau, Cenral Sulawesi, 14 Syawal 1437/19 July 2016 (MINA) – The police have confirmed that one of the two radicals shot dead by a police-military joint task force on Monday evening was Santoso alias Abu Wardah, the leader of Posos armed terror group in Central Sulawesi, Antara reported.

Deputy Regional Police Chief of Central Sulawesi Senior Commissioner Leo Bona Lubis stated on Tuesday that the other body was of the groups member, Mochtar.

“Based on physical examinations, the body is of Santoso. We are now awaiting the result of the DNA test,” he remarked at the Bhayangkara Public Hospital in Palu on Tuesday.

In the meantime, President Joko Widodo has received a report on a gunfight that occurred in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in which terror suspect Santoso was allegedly killed.

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“The president has already received a report about it,” presidential spokesman Johan Budi noted here on Monday when his confirmation was sought regarding the issue.

Johan said Coordinating Minister for Political, Security, and Legal Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan had reported about the gunfight in Poso involving the governments Tinombala task force.

Johan remarked that during the gunfight, five members of the Santoso-led group were neutralized, including one whose appearance bore resemblance to that of Santoso.

“One of the bodies has a mole similar to that of Santosos,” Johan pointed out. (T/R07/R01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)