Brawls in Cilacap claim one life

Brawls in Cilacap claim one life

CILACAP, Central Java: One man was killed, over a dozen others
were injured and several stores were looted on Saturday, when
thousands of villagers clashed in two separate incidents in the
subdistricts of Adipala and Sampang here.

Police chief Lt. Andi Lolo said the brawl in Adipala involving
residents of the town and villagers from nearby Penggalang began
over a pack of cigarettes that was not paid for.

"I'm at my wits end. They battled each other over a pack of
cigarettes. It's too much," he told journalists.

According to Andi, the incident started after a man who was
beaten by a cigarette vendor for not paying for a pack of
cigarettes came back with his friends for retaliation. The
incident became a full-scale brawl that almost broke out again on
Sunday.

At least five stores were looted during the incident.

Separately, another man died after his throat was cut during a
clash between villagers from Cindaga and Gentasari that began
after two men from Gentasari on a motorcycle accidentally hit and
seriously injured a Cindaga villager.

The Gentasari villagers became furious after they learned that
the motorcycle was damaged and thrown into a river after the
accident. The villagers, reportedly seeking vengeance, killed a
Cindaga villager.

Hundreds of police and troops have been deployed in the two
areas, according to Andi. No arrests have been made. (45)