27 arrested for torching houses

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)