Angry mobs attack in Kebumen

SEMARANG: An angry crowd of some 1,000 people in Kebumen went on a rampage on Thursday, vandalizing the Sruweng Police station and setting a motorbike on fire because they wanted to get their hands on three detainees they accused of causing unrest.

Precinct chief Second Lt. Surono suffered a severe head injury in the rock pelting that ensued after police refused to release the three.

"A group of people from Kejawang village in Sruweng were outraged and wanted to beat the three who caused a brawl during Tuesday's Independence Day celebration," Kebumen Police Chief Lt. Col. Sukarjan said.

Separately, brawls between residents broke out on the border area of Brebes and Cirebon regencies on Wednesday and Thursday night, causing one fatality and injuring seven others.

Ten houses were also damaged in the melee.

"The brawls were between two youth groups from Kalirahayu and Limbangan villages," Brebes Police chief Lt. Col. Syarif Alamsyah said on Friday.

He revealed that one of the youth groups was provoked by rumors that the other would attack them during an Independence Day celebration. As it turned out, the Kalirahayu group said they went to the other group's village only to watch a dangdut music show. (har/edt)