Hundreds of Papuan pro-independence protesters clashed with Indonesian police on Tuesday after the alleged shooting of three Papuan students by militia groups in Jayapura, the capital of the province.

On Sunday the students were reportedly attacked in their dormitories by armed militias, who have been backed by police. Protesters said at least one student died, due to a bullet wound to the chest.

Video footage of hundreds of protestors being confronted today by police officers holding riot shields in Manokwari, the West Papua provincial capital, was circulated by activists. They said officers prevented demonstrators from marching.

Protests have been raging across the vast Papua region of Indonesia since August 19, sparked by video footage of Indonesia security officials calling Papuan students “dogs” and “monkeys”.

Initially demonstrations took aim against discrimination, but they have grown into calls for Papuan independence. Authorities have cut internet and phone access in many areas of Papua, making information there hard to verify.

Papua came under Indonesian sovereignty in 1969 in a vote generally considered to be a sham. Since then authorities in the region have been accused of human rights abuses and discrimination against Papuans.

Yesterday local media reported that three civilians died in Papua’s Puncak regency during a raid by security forces. Last week at least six people died in the Papuan town Deiyai, after police shot at protestors.