Banjir Ambarita – An Indonesian soldier was killed in an ambush at Puncak Jaya district in Papua on Thursday.

The incident took place when a group of armed men ambushed a military security squad patrolling Angin village at 9.30 a.m. One of the soldiers, First Private Lukas Yahya Kafiar, was shot in the head and died instantly.

A military spokesman in Papua, Lt. Col. Inf. Ali Bogra, said the identity of the attackers was still unconfirmed. "We are still doing the investigation and we are chasing the perpetrators, believed to be members of a separatist group," he said, referring to the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

First Private Yahya's body was flown to the military headquarters in Jayapura – A military ceremony will take place before the body is handed over to the family for burial.

It was the second attack against military personnel in Papua this month. On July 6, three soldiers were shot during a clash with unknown attackers in Kalome village, Tingginambut district. The ambush occurred as a group of Indonesian Military (TNI) officers patrolled the village.