A Catholic teacher has been shot dead in Indonesia.

Yuni Yesra Patatang was head of a Catholic youth group and was found dead on Monday evening. His bullet-riddled body was discovered in Ilaga, in the Puncak Jaya district, Papua.

The Commission for Youth Ministry of the Indonesian Bishops Conference revealed he had been killed and his body discovered with two bullet wounds around 6.30pm on Monday evening.

No one has yet claimed the killing in a province heavily troubled by separatist violence. Puncak Jaya remains one of the most dangerous districts with groups such as the Organisasi Papua Merdeka fighting against government forces.

Patatang was from a Toraja ethnic family and was a religion and catechism primary school teacher after having graduated in catechetical studies. He also worked part time as a taxi driver.

Local police described the killing as "savage" as they vowed to send two special teams to hunt for the attacker.

"These teams would help the police and the Indonesian Military deployed in Puncak Jaya to hunt down the shooter," said Papua Police chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw. "The perpetrator's act is savage and inhumane, shooting a teacher who every day teaches children there to become educated."

Waterpauw added the scene suggested a fight had occurred before Patatang was finally shot from a short distance.

Markus Tandiyu, the head of Torajan community in Puncak Jaya, said: "That afternoon he was on his way from Kota Baru to his house in Kota Lama. He took a passenger to Kota Lama. Not long after that, he was found dead with a gunshot wound."