Palu, C Sulawesi, (antarasulteng.com) - Chief of Tinombala Operation task unit, Senior Commissioner Leo Bona Lubis, has confirmed that the two men shot dead in Poso on Monday afternoon were Santoso and Mukhtar.
"Based on a simple identification of the bodies, I as the operation`s chief can confirm that the shootout that occurred yesterday between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ended in the killing of terrorist leader Santoso and Mukhtar, both of whom were on the fugitives` list," he said here on Tuesday.
The police, however, was still awaiting the DNA samples of the relatives for the purposes of investigation. The samples have been obtained and were on their way to Palu.
"The three people who escaped are suspected to be Basri, his wife and Santoso`s wife," he added.
Only 19 members of the Santoso-led armed Eastern Indonesian Mujahidin group now remain.
They include Jumiatun Muslim alias Atun alias Bunga alias Umi Delima, the wife of Santoso, Tini Susanti Kaduku alias Umi Fadel (Ali Kalora`s wife) and Nurmi Usman alias Oma (Basri`s wife).
The remains of the two men are likely to be flown to Jakarta.
In the meantime, President Joko Widodo has received a report about the gunfight in Poso, Central Sulawesi in which Santoso was killed.
"The president has already received a report about it," presidential spokesman Johan Budi noted in Jakarta on Monday when he was asked to confirm reports in this regard.
Two Men Shot In Poso Confirmed To Be Santoso And Mukhtar
Police stand near the coffin in the front two rooms Installation of Forensic Rumkit Bayangkara, Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday (19/7). From the outside identification results confirmed the bodies of two dead Muktar Santoso and shootout with Task Force Tambarana Tinombala Mountains. AFP PHOTO / F
