Farouk Arnaz – Separatist groups in Papua behind several hit and run attacks that have left police and military members dead and injured are out to get firearms, police said on Wednesday.

"We have identified at least one group that often disrupts security," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said. "There are also other groups that have around 30 members. Each group has nine or 10 weapons."

Anton said that the groups are increasing weapon stockpiles by killing police and military members and taking their firearms. "For weapon warehouse [guards and police], we instructed them to be alert at all times," he said. "They should not go out alone."

Most of the separatist groups are based in mountainous regions that are hard for police to access.

Papua has seen increasing incidences of violence over the past few weeks, the latest being the shooting of Mulia Police chief Adj. Comr. Dominggus Otto Awes on Monday.

On Wednesday, a mobile police brigade that was patrolling with security officers from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold mine was ambushed and shot at at Mile 35 in Timika. The perpetrators fired three times and ran away. Nobody died in the incident.