Brothers killed in youth clash

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan

A man and his younger brother were killed and four others sustained stab wounds in a clash early on Friday between supporters of youth groups in Medan, North Sumatra.

Medan Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Maruli Siahaan said the brawl erupted at around 1 a.m. in Bagan Deli, Belawan city.

Local residents said the clash involved members of the Pancasila Youth (PP) group and the Karya Youth Association (IPK) and was apparently caused by long-standing rivalry over land control.

The clash followed a recent dispute between the same rival groups in Medan, Maruli said without elaborating.

J. Manurung, a resident of Belawan, said the two groups were involved in similar clashes on several occasions triggered by trivial matters.

"People here are afraid when a brawl erupts as they often suffer the brunt of the clash. There were at least one or two houses stoned," he added.

Last week, youths from the PP and IPK also clashed in the town of Tanjung Bali, killing two people.

The two who died in Friday's clash were Surya Parlindungan Butar-Butar, 30, a resident of Belawan, and his younger brother Hormes Butar-Butar, 24. The two bodies were taken to Pirngadi Hospital in Medan for an autopsy.

They bled to death after being stabbed in the stomach, chest, neck and leg.

The four victims wounded in the incident were treated at the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) hospital in Medan, also for stab wounds.

Maruli said the police deployed dozens of personnel to prevent further clashes.

"We have taken in five people for questioning. Two of them will certainly be declared suspects," he told journalists in Belawan.

The police also confiscated swords, knives and stones used in the bloody brawl.