ABEPURA INCIDENT UNRELATED WITH POLLS: POLICE CHIEF

Cikeas, Bogor, April 9 (ANTARA) - National Police Chief
Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said the attack on the Abepura police precinct in Papua early Thursday morning had nothing to do with the legislative polls later in the day.

"Oh no, there is no such link. It was a pure case of violence committed by armed men who must be punished," the police chief said after attending a limited cabinet meeting at President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Puri Cikeas residence here Thursday.

Danuri said police had so far named six persons as suspects in the case and were still questioning eight others as witnesses.

To date, police assisted by military were continuously monitoring further developments in the situation, he said.

The attack on the Abepura police precinct was carried out by an armed group at about 01.00 a.m. Thursday.

The police chief said further the police action in opening fire on the attackers was legally accounted for.

"The group attacked the police precint with molotov cocktails and arrows," he said, adding that police assisted by military would take stern measures against anyone who tried to attack a police station. ***1***