Hundreds of Bugbug Traditional Village Residents Protest at Karangasem Police Headquarters

Hundreds of residents from the Bugbug Traditional Village descended upon the Karangasem Police Headquarters on Sunday (7/6/2026). Their arrival was intended to support the reporting process regarding the vandalism of toilets within the Pura Gumang temple area.

The demonstrators carried several banners containing messages urging the police to take action against those responsible for damaging public facilities at Pura Gumang. A number of police personnel were present to monitor the gathering.

“We are taking legal action because the damaged building is a public facility constructed through the community’s self-funded efforts,” said the Head of the Bugbug Traditional Village, Nyoman Purwa Ngurah Arsana, on Sunday (7/6/2026).

Arsana explained that the toilets serve to support the comfort of the community when performing prayers at Pura Gumang. However, the facility was vandalised, prompting Arsana and the villagers to pursue legal channels. Arsana expressed hope that the police would investigate the vandalism case at Pura Gumang professionally so that the perpetrators could be apprehended.

Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations for the Karangasem Police, Ipda I Nengah Artono, stated that two groups of people from the Bugbug Traditional Village had filed reports, each consisting of hundreds of individuals. “The first group filed a report regarding the vandalism of the toilets in the Pura Gumang area,” Artono explained.

After the first group dispersed, another group arrived shortly after to report that the construction of toilets in the Pura Gumang area violated the sanctity of the site. As both groups filed their reports accompanied by hundreds of supporters, dozens of police officers were deployed to maintain order. “In essence, we have received both reports and they will be followed up in due course,” said Artono.