2,000 people loot shrimp ponds

CILACAP, Central Java: About 2,000 residents of Laut village in Cilacap looted shrimp ponds belonging to a cooperative of the Nusa Kambangan correctional institution, causing around Rp 350 million (US$32,000) in material losses.

Cilacap police chief Lt. Col. Andi Lolo said the people looted the shrimp ponds after an argument between a villager and a correctional institution staff member on Monday night.

"The staffer beat the villager so the other villagers became angry and looted the ponds," he said.

He said that in the middle of the night, thousands of people from Ujung Alang, Ujung Gagak and Djodjok villages went to the shrimp ponds which were about to be harvested.

The looting stopped after police officers fired warning shots. No one was arrested. (45)