Indonesia: Police killed in gunfight with MIT militants

By Nicky Aulia Widadio

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) - A policeman was killed in a shootout between the Madago Raya Task Force and the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terror group in Poso Pesisir Utara District, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi, an official told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

"Brigadier Posthumous Herlis was struck by gunfire and died,” spokesman for Central Sulawesi Regional Police Didik Supranoto told Anadolu Agency about the gunfight that occurred Wednesday.

Earlier this week, another gunfight between security forces and the militant group occurred in the same district. Two MIT members and one soldier were killed in that battle.

Currently, the Madago Raya Task Force is searching for remaining MIT members who are on a wanted list.

“Both shootouts occurred in the same district. It means they are most likely in the nearby area,” said Supranoto.

MIT is a pro-Islamic state Indonesian militant group led by Ali Kalora. It is behind terror attacks in Central Sulawesi.

In November 2020, the group killed a family in Sigi.

*Writing by Maria Elisa Hospita from Anadolu Agency's Indonesian language service