Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Habema Joint Operations Command recovered a rifle from a cave in Maybrat District, Southwest Papua Province, on Friday, the Indonesian Military (TNI) said.
The weapon was identified as a Caracal rifle, accompanied by 17 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, according to an official statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.
The rifle had been seized by OPM's Kodap IV/Sorong Raya during a March 22 attack on Marine Battalion 9 personnel in Sory, Habema commander Brig. Gen. Riyanto said.
The search team included Marine Battalion 9's mobile Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border task force, Denkul 4/Rajawali V of the 411th Pandawa/Kostrad Task Force, and the 764th Infantry Battalion's regional border task force.
Riyanto said the rifle was found after troops questioned Zakarias Fatem, deputy commander of OPM's Kodap IV/Sorong Raya, who was arrested on Wednesday, October 14.
Acting on information obtained, troops searched several locations and eventually found the rifle.
“Recovering the weapon is part of efforts to prevent its misuse and protect the safety of civilians and security personnel,” Riyanto said.
Troops are still searching for a Daewoo K3 firearm that preliminary information suggests was hidden in Maybrat, he said.
Habema forces will continue searching for weapons to help ensure public safety in Papua, Riyanto added.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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