Brothers killed in youth clash

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.