The quiet and sleepy subdistrict of Purwodadi was rocked over the weekend by the discovery of the bodies of two local policemen with gunshot wounds.
The bodies of Brig. Wagino, 50, and Brig. Iwan Eko Nugroho, 26, both members of Purwodadi Police in Purworejo, Central Java, were found at the Kentengrejo police post by Adj. Insp. Hendro, who was to relieve them at the end of their shift at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday.
“The police post is located on a quiet road amid rice fields. There are no settlements nearby. No witnesses saw the crime,” Purworejo Police Chief Adj. Comr. Agus Krisdianto said on Sunday. “This road is dark and prone to robberies.”
But Krisdianto said robbery did not seem to be the motive as the victims’ motorcycles were still parked at the police post. No other valuables were apparently taken.
Head of the Police Forensic Laboratory of Central Java, Adj. Comr. Rini Astuti, said officers had found a long-barreled gun and two shell casings at the scene.
“The autopsy showed that Wagino suffered a bullet wound in his back up through the chest, while Iwan suffered a bullet wound in the back of the head,” he said.
Sukamto, the village chief, spoke of reports from people who heard gunshots just after midnight on Saturday. “However, we did not even dare to directly search for the source of that noise because this village is very dark and has no street lighting. The next morning we found out exactly what happened,” he said.
Sukamto said there had been a rumor that Wagino and Iwan shot each other. But Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo dismissed speculation.
“Give us time to investigate this case. I declare the rumor is not true. They were shot dead by a stranger,” he said.
Rini said the recent murders were not an isolated incident. On March 15, Brig. Yona Anton, a member of Prembun Police in Kebumen, Central Java, was gunned down by an unknown party, Rini said.
“Police are still investigating possible links,” he said. “There are similarities — police officers being shot dead at police posts along the highway. But the criminal motive is still unknown.”
Iwan’s parents, Adj. Insp. Wagiman and his wife, Kusnanti, were distraught when told the news of their son’s death.
Wagiman, an officer serving in the Grabag sector of the district, said he was not allowed to go to the scene.
“I have not received an official explanation of what actually happened,” he said.
The bodies of Brig. Wagino, 50, and Brig. Iwan Eko Nugroho, 26, both members of Purwodadi Police in Purworejo, Central Java, were found at the Kentengrejo police post by Adj. Insp. Hendro, who was to relieve them at the end of their shift at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday.
“The police post is located on a quiet road amid rice fields. There are no settlements nearby. No witnesses saw the crime,” Purworejo Police Chief Adj. Comr. Agus Krisdianto said on Sunday. “This road is dark and prone to robberies.”
But Krisdianto said robbery did not seem to be the motive as the victims’ motorcycles were still parked at the police post. No other valuables were apparently taken.
Head of the Police Forensic Laboratory of Central Java, Adj. Comr. Rini Astuti, said officers had found a long-barreled gun and two shell casings at the scene.
“The autopsy showed that Wagino suffered a bullet wound in his back up through the chest, while Iwan suffered a bullet wound in the back of the head,” he said.
Sukamto, the village chief, spoke of reports from people who heard gunshots just after midnight on Saturday. “However, we did not even dare to directly search for the source of that noise because this village is very dark and has no street lighting. The next morning we found out exactly what happened,” he said.
Sukamto said there had been a rumor that Wagino and Iwan shot each other. But Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo dismissed speculation.
“Give us time to investigate this case. I declare the rumor is not true. They were shot dead by a stranger,” he said.
Rini said the recent murders were not an isolated incident. On March 15, Brig. Yona Anton, a member of Prembun Police in Kebumen, Central Java, was gunned down by an unknown party, Rini said.
“Police are still investigating possible links,” he said. “There are similarities — police officers being shot dead at police posts along the highway. But the criminal motive is still unknown.”
Iwan’s parents, Adj. Insp. Wagiman and his wife, Kusnanti, were distraught when told the news of their son’s death.
Wagiman, an officer serving in the Grabag sector of the district, said he was not allowed to go to the scene.
“I have not received an official explanation of what actually happened,” he said.
