Timika, C. Papua. Indonesian security forces are searching for an armed group accused of abducting nine civilians, including children and a pregnant teenager, in Jila district in Central Papua province.

The victims, all female, were reportedly taken by force on Monday, according to the Mimika military command. Their whereabouts remained unknown as of Thursday.

Mimika Police Chief Alredo Agustinus Rumbiak said police had obtained the names of the victims from their families. Police have requested reinforcements from Brimob, Indonesia's paramilitary police unit, to support officers stationed in Jila.

“We have requested assistance from Brimob Battalion B to back up our colleagues at the Jila Police Station," Alredo said in Timika on Thursday, according to Antara.

The victims have been identified as Nemerina Wamang, 17, who is reportedly in the early stages of pregnancy; Alin Mesawarol, Nopi Aim, and Opinte Meswaro, all elementary school students; Yonita Senawatme, 18; Meria Nibilingame, 15; Wena Katagame, 18; Ilimin Onawame, 18; and Miante Nibilingame, 13.

Lt. Col. Jozanda, commander of the Mimika military district, said troops began pursuing the perpetrators after receiving reports from local residents.

He said the victims appeared to have been forcibly taken from Jila. The group allegedly included children in third, fourth, and sixth grades of elementary school; teenagers; and a 17-year-old who was pregnant.

Jozanda said two mothers attempted to prevent the armed group from taking their children.

One of them, identified as 48-year-old Neregingget Magai, was reportedly shot and killed after resisting. Another woman, Inkolung Aim, was allegedly pushed into a ravine and suffered a broken leg. Magai's body was cremated the same day, while Aim was receiving treatment in Jila, according to the military.

The military said the armed group was believed to comprise about 15 people but that its identity and affiliation had not yet been established.

“We are investigating where this group came from,” Jozanda said, adding that authorities suspected it could be a new group because its language differed from that spoken by local residents.

The incident comes amid a decades-old separatist conflict in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost region. Armed groups seeking independence from Indonesia have periodically attacked security forces, civilians and infrastructure, particularly in remote mountainous areas.

Indonesian authorities generally refer to the armed groups as armed criminal groups (KKB), while separatist fighters are commonly associated with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Authorities said the situation in Jila had begun to stabilize, but air transportation to the district remained unavailable. Security forces were continuing their search for the nine missing civilians and investigating the identity and motive of the armed group.

Add as a preferred source on Google +