Two more people fall victim in East Java killing spree<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The mysterious killing spree in East Java has
\nclaimed two more victims, including one man slain in a mob attack
\nbecause he was suspected of complicity in the murders.<\/p>\n
Their deaths in Jember bring the number of murders to 159,
\naccording to the estimate of the independent Missing Persons and
\nVictims of Violence (Kontras). Most previous victims were either
\nsuspected practitioners of black magic or Moslem preachers.<\/p>\n
On Sunday morning, a Darungan villager of Tanggul subdistrict,
\nNurasin, 50, was found dead in the gutter near his house by
\nvillagers. His body had several wounds inflicted by a sharp
\nobject and his skull was smashed. Neighbors said Nurasin may have
\nbeen murdered on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
They described him as a laborer who did not dabble in black
\nmagic, but was a devout Moslem.<\/p>\n
Neighbors claimed to have seen several strangers in the area
\nbefore they found Nurasin's body.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, a 35-year-old man was mobbed to death in front of
\nthe Ledokombo police subprecinct, also in Jember, about 105
\nkilometers east of here.<\/p>\n
Locals said the unidentified man had been in police custody
\nsince Friday, allegedly for suspicious acts.<\/p>\n
Villagers reportedly went to the police station and demanded
\nthat the suspect be released, or they would burn down the
\nbuilding. The police complied, and the man was set upon by the
\nmob.<\/p>\n
However, Jember police chief Lt. Col. A. Madjid Thawil denied
\nthat police had released the man at the mob's insistence.<\/p>\n
He said the man was caught by villagers and was about to be
\nhanded over to the police. However, they met another crowd of
\nvillagers in front of the police station and the situation became
\nviolent. He added another man was beaten but survived. He is
\nundergoing treatment at Dr. Subandi Hospital in Jember.<\/p>\n
The police have been criticized for being slow in handling the
\nmurders and averting more murders. Kontras estimated the number
\nof victims at 157 on Friday. At least 110 have been killed in
\nBanyuwangi alone, its coordinator, Munir said.<\/p>\n
He believed the murders may have been perpetrated by an
\norganized force.<\/p>\n
Several religious teachers in Jember called on police to stop
\nthe killing. Some claimed they had received written death
\nthreats.<\/p>\n
Yusuf Muhammad from an Islamic boarding school in the Telaga
\nBesar subdistrict, who is also a cleric of the Nahdlatul Ulama
\nMoslem organization -- said two strangers had once come looking
\nfor him.<\/p>\n
Munir said the killings had intensified since the Banyuwangi
\nadministration instructed village chiefs to list alleged
\npractitioners of black magic, but half the victims were
\npreachers.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Antara news agency reported that the police
\nintelligence coordinator investigating the killings, Maj. Gen.
\nDa'i Bachtiar, said the police recorded 71 murders in September
\nalone. (nur\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-more-people-fall-victim-in-east-java-killing-spree-1447893297",
"image": ""
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