Presidential spokesman Johan Budi said Santoso, who headed the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen, was believed to be one of two militants killed in an exchange of fire with police. "One of the people killed bore a resemblance to Santoso, and the body is being transported for identification by the family," said Budi. National Police Chief Tito Karnavian echoed him. “There are indeed signs, a mole on his forehead, which matches the features of Santoso.”
The other militant killed in the gunbattle was believed to be Santoso's deputy Basri, who had escaped from prison in 2012. He was jailed in 2007 for killing three Christian students, reported the Associated Press. According to Jakarta Post, in the 30-minute shootout, which took place around 5 pm on Monday, three other militants managed to escape into the jungle.
Santoso, the leader of Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen that owes its allegiance to IS, was labelled an official terrorist by the United States in March. Indonesian security forces have been on the lookout for Santoso for the past five years.
A native of Java, Santoso had carried out several recent attacks on local security forces. His group was also behind numerous killings and kidnappings in Indonesia over the past few years.
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