Altercation After Thanksgiving Mass in NTT: Three Brimob Members Stabbed in Incident Allegedly Involving TNI Soldiers

An incident involving a number of TNI and National Police personnel occurred in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Three Brimob members were reported to have suffered stab wounds and required medical treatment after an altercation broke out following a thanksgiving event. The incident occurred in Waemata Hamlet, Gorontalo Village, Komodo District, in the early hours of Thursday, 11 June 2026. The three victims are personnel from the Pioneer B Battalion of the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police’s Brimob Unit. Those injured are Bripda PR, Bripda FA, and Bripda BBK. All three are currently receiving medical treatment at Siloam Hospital Labuan Bajo. The Head of Public Relations of the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Henry Novika Chandra, explained that the incident began after a thanksgiving mass for the inauguration of a Brimob member with the initials Bripda JGR. According to him, the entire series of events initially proceeded safely without any significant disturbances. However, the situation changed after a misunderstanding arose which triggered tension among a number of attending members. Although he has not yet disclosed the detailed chronology of the clash, Henry confirmed that the incident is now being handled seriously by both institutions. As a swift measure, the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Rudi Darmoko, immediately coordinated with the Commander of the IX/Udayana Regional Military Command, Major General TNI Piek Budyakto, and the Commander of the 161/Wira Sakti Military Resort, Brigadier General TNI Hendro Cahyono, to prevent the situation from escalating further. To fully uncover what actually happened, the TNI and the National Police agreed to form a joint team involving the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police’s Professional and Internal Security Division and the Army Military Police. The team will work to investigate the incident professionally while ensuring that all facts are revealed objectively and transparently. Amidst the spotlight on the incident, the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police asserted that the relationship between the two institutions remains solid and undisturbed by the incident. ‘The Regional Police Chief and the Military Commander agree that this was a spontaneous misunderstanding. The fraternal relationship and synergy between the TNI and the National Police in East Nusa Tenggara remain strong. We will resolve this matter wisely so as not to disrupt the main task of maintaining security for the public and tourists,’ he told reporters, as quoted on Thursday, 11 June 2026. Meanwhile, joint apparatus in West Manggarai continue to monitor the situation to keep security conditions under control. The West Manggarai Police Chief together with the Commander of the 1612/West Manggarai Military District Command are reportedly continuing to coordinate following the incident.