Five shot in Banyumas clash

BANYUMAS, Central Java: At least five people were shot when local police fired their guns to break up a clash between residents of two neighboring villages in Banyumas regency on Tuesday morning.

Another resident was injured after being trampled by the brawling crowd. A village administration office and dozens of houses were damaged.

Police said three men were arrested during the clash between residents of Pejaten Sokaraja Wetan village and Pamijen village of Sokaraja district.

Banyumas Police chief Lt. Col. Johny H. Hutauruk said the five victims had been discharged from Margono Soekarjo Hospital in Purwokerto after doctors removed the bullets from their bodies.

"The shooting of the five people was not on purpose. They were hit by stray bullets when the officers fired warning shots at the scene where only a few lights remained, as many lamps in the village were damaged by people involved in the clash.

"So, there's no element of deliberateness," Johny said.

The arrested residents were Susanto from Pamijen and two others from Pejaten.

"They're currently being questioned, because we believe they know details regarding the cause of the brawl," Johny said.

Police believe the clash was sparked by a small dispute between Susanto, 23, and a Pejaten villager who was celebrating the local win of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P) along with other fellow villagers on Monday evening.

Susanto and his motorcycle was said to have not been allowed by the party revelers to pass through a street that connected the two villages.

Police said he was then surrounded by the group and forced to dismount from the motorcycle. A member of the group then allegedly punched him in the face.

Susanto subsequently reported the incident to his fellow villagers, who then headed to Pejaten and vandalized several structures.

Pejaten villagers, armed with machetes and other sharp weapons, then rushed to Pamijen to take revenge. There, they damaged at least 20 homes, a car and the Pejaten administrative office.

The brawl, which started at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, was only brought under control at 1 a.m. on Sunday, after troops were deployed at the scene.