REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA -- An unidentified person fired a shot at a convoy of buses of PT Freeport in Tembagapura of Mimika District on Tuesday, damaging a windshield. The incident took place at 10.45 local time when a convoy of eight buses was plying.

The windshield of the sixth bus, driven by Refly Palit, was shattered by the gunshot. The convoy continued on its way after a brief stop.

The Papua Regional Police will investigate the incident. "We haven't received full information about the incident. But we will investigate immediately," said the Public Relations Head of Papua Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Kamal.

Previously, Papua Police Chief Ins. Gen. Boy Rafli said there are still armed gangs of criminals seeking to create trouble for U.S. mining company PT Freeport Indonesia. He said the existence of the armed criminals is also a threat to the security officers including police and the military personnel in Papua.

"Freeport, which has large copper and gold mine in Tembagapura, Papua, is still facing threat to security in mining operation," Boy said here on March 26.

The armed groups, police called armed gangs of criminals, are believed to be separatists hiding in the mountain jungle of Papua sporadically launching attacks on patrolling security officers.

Boy said the criminals had caused also trouble for the people such as when they attacked and set fire on a hospital in the village of Banti recently.

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