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Indonesia calls militants to surrender after capture of leader

Xinhua, September 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Indonesian police orders all militants hiding in deep forest of Central Sulawesi province to surrender as their strength has been weak following the arrest and death of their leaders.

National Police Chief General Tito Karavian on Tuesday urged the militants in the East Indonesian Mujahideen (MIT) which has claimed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group to leave their hideouts and end their acts.

The general revealed that the number of the armed group is only eleven people, dropping from about 39 last year.

"We expect them to terminate their activities. It is useless engaging in such acts, and brings only disadvantage to themselves and community," Karnavian said at the police hospital.

Two key figures in the group and scores of other militants have been arrested and were shot dead by police and soldiers in a military operation which has been undertaken since January.

Santoso, the most wanted militant in Indonesia who led the group, was shot in July, and his successor Muhammad Basri alias Bagong, was arrested last week, according to the police. On Monday another militant of the group Aji pandu Suwoto alias Subron was shot dead in a fire fight with armed force, Karnavian said.

The police chief stressed that the next target of the operation is Ali Kalora, who might take over the leadership in the militant group.

The operation to pursue the militants is scheduled to end in November, but another policy, including the extension of the offensive move, might be made after that, Karavian said. Endit