LAHAD DATU: Police recovered 13 bodies of Sulu gunmen during their ‘mopping up’ and search operations at Kampung Tanduo today.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 12 of the bodies were found buried in shallow graves in two separate locations within the red zone, while the other was that of an intruder killed during a shoot-out around 6.45am.
“After the ‘mopping up’ and search operations, the forensics team was sent in to check the bodies. Even so, it was not safe because at 1.45pm, they were attacked, but, thankfully, no one got injured,” he told a media briefing at Felda Residence Sahabat.
It would appear that the Sulu intruders performed a mass burial for their fallen comrades as nine bodies were found in one grave, while another three were buried in another.
Ahmad Zahid slammed criticism over the handling of the stand-off, which is entering its fourth week.
“This is not staged. It is reality, and we cannot move fast due to the geographical land form of the area.
“We hope the social media will not undermine the work done here. This may be the first collaboration between the police and armed forces, but we are doing a good job,” he said.
Also present at the briefing was Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.