Balikpapan Primary School Teacher Assaulted After Reprimanding Student for Smoking

Muhammad Afdal (31), a teacher at SDN 017 East Balikpapan, became a victim of an assault after reprimanding a high school student for smoking. The student complained to his parents that he had been hit by the victim, which ultimately led to the teacher being attacked. “The victim gave a verbal warning not to smoke while wearing a school uniform. However, the student did not accept the reprimand,” said East Balikpapan Police Chief AKP Muhammad Chusen on Sunday (26/7/2026). The incident occurred on Jalan Lapangan Tembak Lambada RT 33, Teritip Village, East Balikpapan, on Tuesday (21/7) at 1.20 pm local time. The victim saw a student wearing a school uniform riding a motorcycle while smoking. The victim then reprimanded the high school student. According to Chusen, the student even responded to the victim’s reprimand with a challenging tone. Seeing the situation become crowded, the victim chose to leave the location to avoid a commotion. However, the student who was reprimanded told his family that he had been hit by the victim. The situation then escalated, and one of the students struck the victim, leading to a group assault. “We are still investigating, so we are currently examining witnesses,” Chusen said.