12 detained over Malangke fray

MALANGKE, South Sulawesi (JP): Luwu Police detained on Wednesday 12 residents of Malangke district following an arson attack on a police complex here on Sunday.

The 12 men were detained at Luwu Police station, some 100 kilometers from Malangke, Luwu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anjaya said on Wednesday.

"They are being questioned for their alleged involvement in an arson attack on the Malangke Police station and police complex," the officer said.

Three inmates fled Malengke Police station during the fire. All documents and case dossiers were destroyed in the fire and at least 30 assembled Papporo guns stored as evidence also went missing.

South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani expressed concern over the incident, saying that the police should use the incident as a lesson to improve their performance.

"I have ordered a full investigation into the case, and I call on people to restraint themselves," Firman said.

The arson attack was triggered by the accidental shooting of a five-year-old boy from Cenning village in the Malengke Barat area by a policeman from Malengke station.

The policeman were chasing an assault suspect in Cenning and fired warning shots when the suspect attempted to flee the scene. A stray bullet hit a boy named Bullah, who was taking a nap. He died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Pao-Pao village chief in Malangke, Mansyur Abdullah, urged the police to soon deploy officers as well as rebuild the police station.

"We want the police personnel who were evacuated from Malangke to return here and for the police facilities to be rebuilt," Mansyur said, adding that the police were needed in the area for security reasons. (27/edt)