27 arrested for torching houses

DENPASAR, Bali: Police have arrested a total of 27 people suspected of burning residents' houses and a structure for Ngaben (cremation ceremony) in three villages.

Bali Police Spokesman Supt. Suyatmo was quoted as saying by Antara on Wednesday that a company of the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers had been deployed in the villages of Mukus, Tamanbali and Jehem Tembuku in Bangli regency for fear of possible rioting following the arrests.

"An intensive probe has been launched. We want to know the motive for the burning of the buildings," Suyatmo said.

Reports said that the burning of six houses and a structure for Ngaben began when Mukus villagers prohibited the Trunyan villagers from using a plot of land for Ngaben. The plot belongs to the Trunyan and Mukus villages.

The angered Trunyan villagers then set the Ngaben structure and the houses on fire. (sur)