Fatal Wedding Incident in Purwakarta, DPR Member: Thuggery Must Be Dealt with Firmly!

JAKARTA - DPR Commission III member Hasbiallah Ilyas has emphasised that thuggery must be dealt with firmly and consistently, as it is already causing widespread concern among the public. The latest incident involved Dadang (57), a resident who was organising a wedding celebration when he was attacked by a gang of thugs and killed in Purwakarta Regency, West Java. “Thuggery, whether in cities or villages, must be addressed firmly and consistently. If left unchecked, this practice will evolve into systematic extortion and damage social order,” Hasbiallah stated in his comments on Wednesday (8/4/2026). The violent act that resulted in the loss of a life serves as a stark warning to the government to resolve the issue of thuggery. Currently, he observes that thuggery within communities is highly disturbing. “This situation cannot be allowed to continue. Amid economic pressures, acts of intimidation against residents will increasingly trigger disharmony,” Hasbiallah said. He firmly stated that the state must not be defeated by groups using violence and intimidation against the public. “If thuggery is allowed to persist, society will live in fear, economic activities will be disrupted, and the rule of law will lose its authority. Therefore, the state must be present and ensure the security of every citizen,” Hasbiallah added. At the time of the incident, Dadang was hosting his child’s wedding party at home. To entertain the guests, the event featured live organ music. At 14:50 WIB, while the entertainment was underway, a group of people, suspected to be intoxicated, arrived at the venue. The group demanded Rp500,000 but were refused, which allegedly provoked their anger. In the ensuing chaos, Dadang, who was managing the event, became the target of their rage. He was struck with a hard object to the head and lost consciousness at the scene.