Five die as mentally ill man runs amok

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

A mentally ill man, who had been kept shackled by his family for a year until recently, fatally stabbed four people and wounded more than a dozen others on Sunday in Kalora subdistrict, some five kilometers west of Palu municipality, the capital of Central Sulawesi province.

The suspect, Nantjo, was killed by enraged residents.

The incident occurred at about 8 p.m as residents of Kalora were gathered in a subdistrict hall for a traditional celebration.

As residents enjoyed the party, Nantjo, 35, a resident of the neighboring subdistrict of Kanuna, burst into the hall and began wildly slashing people with a knife.

"He stabbed at anyone, including children," said Sapri Laupa, executive director of local non-governmental organization People's Education Foundation, who witnessed the attack.

Subdistrict head Musi said the incident left four people dead and 14 others wounded.

"The residents were surprised and scattered at first, but then they fought back. The situation was brought under control after some of the residents began throwing stones at Nantjo and killed him," said Musi.

The victims were rushed to two hospitals in Palu, where four of them died from their wounds. The fatalities were identified as Tido, 29, Lesi, 21, Yulia, 23, and Fadel, age unknown.

Some 200 police officers were deployed to the scene of the attack to maintain order.

Donggala Police deputy chief Adj. Comr. Hermansyah said Nantjo was known to be mentally ill.

Musi said Nantjo had been kept shackled by his family for a year, but was freed recently, as they had come to the conclusion that restraining him would not improve his mental health.

Central Sulawesi detectives chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Immanuel Larosa said none of the residents would be investigated over the incident.

"The only suspect, Nantjo, is already dead," he said, adding that the residents killed Nantjo in self-defense.