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)