A member of the armed civilian terrorist group Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) was killed in a shootout with the Madago Raya Operations Task Force in Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, Saturday, July 17, 2021.

Madago Raya Operations Public Relations Assistant Deputy, AKBP Bronto Budiyono, said the shooting took place in the forests and mountains of Tanahlanto Village, Torue District.

The location of the shootout, according to him, is not far from the location of the shootout that killed two other MIT members on Sunday, July 11, 2021.

"Right. One MIT member was killed. The shootout occurred at around 11.30 WITA," said Bronto.

Currently, the evacuation process is still being carried out by the task force at the scene using helicopters.

The difficult terrain because it is in dense forest and mountains makes the task force need more time to carry the bodies.

The plan is that the body, whose identity is not yet known, will be buried at the Bhayangkara hospital in Palu.

"There (Bhayangkara Hospital) the Central Sulawesi Police Dokkes team are waiting to identify the bodies," said Bronto.

At the scene of the incident, the task force has also conducted an investigation of the crime scene and found some evidence belonging to the dead MIT member.

Among them, a revolver type firearm along with some ammunition, a machete, and clothes.

"The evidence was immediately secured by the task force," said Bronto.

This shootout began with a sweep carried out by the task force in the forests and mountains of Tanahlanto Village.

At that time, the task force saw an unknown person with a suspicious stature resting.

When making sure they were on the wanted list for terrorism cases, the task force then fired shots. A shootout took place for about 10 minutes and killed one MIT member.

Meanwhile, two other MIT members were self-inflicted.

"Until now, the sweep to catch the rest of the MIT members continues," said Bronto.



Two dead

Previously, two MIT members were also killed in an ambush by a task force in the Tokasa mountains, Tanahlanto Village on Sunday, July 11, 2021.

The two MIT members who died were identified as Rukli and Qatar. Both are residents of Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

They are senior members of MIT who have expertise in war and bomb making.

The bodies of Rukli and Qatar have also been buried in the Poboya public cemetery, Palu on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. After previously being evacuated by helicopter on the same day.

The MIT group is a terrorist group that has been affiliated with ISIS. Since 2012 they have carried out acts of terrorism in Poso, Parigi Moutong, Sigi, to Palu.



Video : Public Relations of the Greater Madago Operations Task Force