News Desk, Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Regional Police has been urged to take over the investigation into a shooting allegedly involving officers from the Bokondini Police Sector in Tolikara Regency, Papua Highlands.
The shooting, which killed Elki Wunungga, occurred in Mairini Village, Bokondini District, Tolikara Regency, on April 14, 2026.
Lawyers representing the victim's family from the Papua Human Rights Lawyers Association said they were requesting the case be transferred to the Papua Police due to what they described as slow law enforcement proceedings by the Tolikara Police and concerns that the investigation had not been conducted transparently or impartially.
In a written press statement released on Thursday, the legal team said they had identified several irregularities in the handling of the case, including the victim's name being recorded incorrectly in the police report as Elki Wanimbo instead of Elki Wunungga.
"The police report was filed under a Type A model without any transparency toward the victim's family. The only notification letter on the progress of the investigation provided was a single-page document dated April 20, 2026," the lawyers stated.
They also noted that nearly 28 days after the incident, there had been no clear or comprehensive progress in the investigation. Despite formally appointing legal counsel, the victim's family said they had never been officially informed about developments in the case.
According to the legal team, neither the victim's relatives nor eyewitnesses present at the scene had been comprehensively questioned, while police officers who were at the location had already been examined.
The lawyers argued that the Papua Police should fully take over the investigation from the Tolikara Police because the case involves active police personnel within the local jurisdiction.
They said the initial handling of the case through a Type A police report, combined with alleged lack of transparency, highlighted the need for an independent, professional, objective, and accountable investigation in order to maintain public trust in law enforcement.
The legal team urged the Papua Police to conduct a professional, independent, and transparent investigation, while also calling on the Internal Affairs Division of the Papua Police to take firm action over alleged ethical violations by police officers.
They further requested the involvement of the National Commission on Human Rights to investigate possible human rights violations, and asked the Witness and Victim Protection Agency to provide protection for witnesses and the victim's family.
In addition to pursuing criminal proceedings with the Papua Police, the lawyers said they had submitted a formal complaint to the Papua representative office of the National Commission on Human Rights regarding alleged human rights violations.
They also filed a complaint with the Professional and Security Division of the Papua Police concerning alleged violations of the police code of ethics and submitted a request for witness and victim protection to the Witness and Victim Protection Agency.
"The legal team will continue to monitor this legal process until there is legal certainty and justice for the late Elki Wunungga and his family," the statement said.
Based on the facts gathered so far, the lawyers alleged there were strong indications of excessive use of force by police officers resulting in the death of a civilian.
Elki Wunungga was allegedly shot by a police officer from the Bokondini Police Sector while officers were attempting to calm a clash between groups of residents at a house where a mourning gathering was taking place.
The victim was initially taken to the Bokondini Community Health Center for treatment. However, due to limited medical equipment, the family later transferred him to Wamena Regional Hospital in Jayawijaya Regency.
At the hospital, medical personnel removed a 3.8-millimeter bullet projectile from the left side of the victim's rib cage on April 16, 2026.
A team from the Papua Foundation for Justice and Human Integrity that visited the scene reported finding three 3.8-millimeter bullets, three 3.8-millimeter shell casings, one 5.56-millimeter shell casing, and one 7.6-millimeter shell casing.