Indonesian police (Photo: AP)Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia’s Government has extended Operation Tinombala 2016, which aims to hunt down Abu Wardah Santoso, head of a terror group in Poso, Central Sulawesi, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan announced on March 12.
The joint operation between the national police and military began on January 10 in the thick jungle of Poso, where members of the extremist group East Indonesia Mujahidin are in hiding.
The group has been driven into a narrow area, however, no trace of terrorist Santoso has been found.
Minister Pandjaitan said that his staff have made meticulous preparations for this latest campaign, including worst-case scenarios.
Santoso is the first Indonesian citizen to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) and became an IS representative in Indonesia. He is dangerous because of great influence on people in Poso.
He has been hunted by the Indonesian military since 2007.-VNA
