REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, POSO -- Another member of the armed group led by Santoso was killed during a fire fight with a joint military-police team in the village of Patiwunga, Poso Pesisid Selatan, in the district of Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Sunday.
Central Sulawesi police chief Rudy Sufahriadi told newsmen here on Monday that the identity of the victim was still being confirmed but it was known that he was a foreigner believed to have come from Uighur, China.
He said the fire fight broke out following a tip off given by a community member about strangers passing by his home.
Following the tip-off, an army-police team involved in the Tinombala operations to crush the elusive radical group led by Santoso reached the location and tracked down the suspicious persons. They, however, defied the team's attempts to arrest them, triggering an armed fight in which one of the men was killed.
The victim suffered injuries in his legs and face. His body was taken to the Bhayangkara police hospital in Palu while three of his fellows escaped into the woods. The team is still searching for them.
The team discovered tens of items in the bag that was being carried by the victim, including self-made bombs, glue, bottle, edibles, three pieces of coconut meat, seven bananas and three kedondong fruits.
It was believed that members of the Santoso group were starving and were out looking for food.
The security authorities had launched the Tinombala operation to crush the group.
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