LAHAD DATU, March 21 – A terrorist was shot dead by security forces during an operation in Kampung Tanjung Batu at 1.30pm yesterday, bringing the death toll to 63. An unarmed female militant in her late 40s was also arrested in the operation. Armed Forces Chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin(pic) said the incident was a follow-up to a shootout at 11.30am which left a soldier with an injured finger due to bullet fragments.
“Our team continued to pursue the terrorists and a shootout broke out, in which our personnel killed one of them and detained a woman.
“Our injured personnel was sent to a nearby hospital and is reported to be stable after surgery,” he said during a news conference with Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar at the Felda Sahabat 16 Operations Headquarters, near here today.
On the possibility of Kampung Tanduo residents returning home, Zulkifeli said an evaluation team comprising the National Security Council, Lahad Datu District Council and Lahad Datu Police Headquarters will be despatched to the village by tomorrow to assess the overall situation before allowing villagers to go back. He said the delay in allowing residents to return home was to ensure that the area surrounded by swamp, forest and undergrowth was fit for occupation after it had become the main target of the terrorists.
“It is easy to evaluate physical damage, but in terms of security we must be very sure that it is safe for residents,” he said, adding there were 12 houses in the village.
In a related development, Zulkifeli denied allegations that a group of men from Sabah would be sent to the Philippines to assassinate Kiram, saying it was baseless and ridiculous. Meanwhile, Khalid, when asked whether the authorities had proof to charge eight terrorists in court, he said: “Of course, but (we) cannot reveal it and if there is no proof, how can we convict them.”
He said any quarters who had doubts on this need to wait for the trial and to direct their questions to Wisma Putra. Eight Filipinos were charged at the High Court in Tawau, and two may face the death penalty, for allegedly waging a war on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Four were charged as being members of a terrorist group while two others
were charged with harbouring a group of terrorists.
They are among 108 individuals who were being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measure) Act (SOSMA) 2012. On the latest statistics of the intrusion, Khalid said the bodies of 30 terrorists were removed and post-mortem was carried out, however, no one had come forward to claim the bodies. The number of arrests made under SOSMA remained at 108, while 268 people were arrested according to other acts so far, he said.
BERNAMA
