Child Dies from Homemade Gun, Parents Urged to Monitor Children's School Assignments

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has urged schools and parents to always check children’s school assignments to ensure their safety. “KPAI urges schools and parents to always check and ensure that school assignments do not contain any elements of weapons in any form,” said KPAI member Diyah Puspitarini when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday. She made this statement in response to the case of a junior high school student who died from an explosion of a homemade firearm in Siak Regency, Riau. KPAI expressed its concern over the incident that claimed the victim’s life, especially as it occurred in the school environment. “The presence of a rifle form or replica in this practical lesson is something we deeply regret. Any sharp weapons or weapons in practical lessons would be better avoided,” said Diyah Puspitarini. Previously, an explosion incident occurred at a private junior high school in Siak Regency, Riau, which killed a male student with the initials MA (15) on Wednesday (8/4). The incident happened when the victim was practising a tool suspected to be a rifle, which then exploded and caused injuries to the victim’s head. Initially, the victim and his friends were given a science subject assignment by the teacher to make a science tool. The tool was known to have been tested several times at home and functioned as intended. The initial plan was to hand over the tool to the teacher on Wednesday (8/4), but because the teacher was on duty supervising TKA at another school, the handover was postponed. Before the handover, the victim took the initiative to test the tool at school. However, tragically, when the victim tested the tool, an explosion occurred that hit the head, resulting in the victim’s death.