Angry mobs attack in Kebumen

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)