Gold panners live in fear

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: Gold panners in Ampalit in Kotawaringin Timur district live in fear because of widespread robbery.

Last week, residents found a gold panner's son badly decomposed body with a knife still stuck in its abdomen and an arm missing, Antara reported. The body was found in a forest near a mining site.

The body was identified as that of the 14-year-old son of a vendor from Kereng Pangi-Ampalit market.

The victim's father, Jainul, 50, said he believed his son was murdered by robbers as his son's motorbike was missing.

Residents said robbery is on the rise in the area. (pan)