1,450 Joint Personnel Deploy to Secure Eid Holiday Exodus in Riau Islands
The Riau Islands Regional Police Department (Polda Kepri) has deployed 1,450 joint personnel to oversee the flow of holiday travellers and provide security for the Eid holiday celebration (1447 Hijriah/2026 CE) through Operation Ketupat Seligi 2026.
Regional Police Chief Inspector General Asep Safrudin stated that the security operation forms part of the nationwide Operation Ketupat 2026, which runs for 13 days from 13 to 25 March 2026 across all of Indonesia.
“This operation aims to ensure the public can travel safely and comfortably during the holiday exodus and celebrate Eid with peace of mind,” he said on Friday (13 March).
The operation involves multiple cross-agency elements including the Armed Forces, the Transportation Authority, local governments, Jasa Raharja, and various related institutions. The 1,450 joint personnel will be stationed across all districts and cities in the Riau Islands region to support the smooth conduct of security operations.
A pre-operation parade for Operation Ketupat Seligi 2026 was led directly by Regional Police Chief Asep Safrudin alongside Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad at the Bhayangkara Field of Polda Kepri on Thursday (12 March).
Security will be concentrated at key mobility hubs, particularly port areas including both domestic and Ro-Ro ferry terminals. In addition to monitoring the outbound and return flows of holiday travellers, personnel will conduct patrols in residential areas that residents have vacated and monitor security conditions at crowded locations.
The Regional Police Chief emphasised the importance of inter-agency coordination to ensure the operation’s success, including monitoring traffic flow, fuel availability, and provision of essential goods for the public during the Eid period.
“We hope the security situation in the Riau Islands region remains conducive so the public can celebrate Eid peacefully,” he said.
Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad stated that the provincial government, alongside district and city governments, has coordinated efforts to anticipate potential obstacles during the holiday exodus season.
“We have held coordination meetings with all relevant parties to ensure the holiday exodus and Eid celebration proceed smoothly,” he said.
The Governor also emphasised the importance of monitoring transport fares for both maritime and air services to prevent price increases that could harm the public.
“Monitoring will continue to ensure business operators comply with applicable regulations,” he added.
Nationwide, Operation Ketupat 2026 will secure 185,607 objects including mosques, terminals, harbours, and airports. The operation runs nationally for 13 days from 13 to 25 March.