Grenade blast kills three

KENDAL, Central Java: Local authorities nabbed on Monday a military member identified as First Sgt. Kartono, 32, for allegedly blindly firing and throwing a grenade at a crowd at a fish selling point at Bandengan village here on Sunday.

Three local residents were killed and 17 others injured in the incident, said local military commander Lt. Col. Hadito.

The fatalities were identified as Zamroni, 17, Sukat, 24, and Fatur, 20.

Injured members of the community are currently receiving medical care at Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang and Suwondo Hospital in Kendal.

"The officer held guns on both of his hands and started to open fire in the air. While people were screaming for help, he threw the grenade," said an eyewitness, Sumarno, aged 28.

There was speculation here that Kartono's action was in order to take revenge against Bandengan residents, who vandalized on Saturday his father in-law's house in Karangsari village. (har/edt)