Husband in Grobogan Splits House in Two with Chainsaw After Filing for Divorce over Alleged Infidelity

A husband’s drastic action in Grobogan Regency, Central Java, went viral on social media after he split a traditional limasan house and its furnishings into two halves. The incident was triggered by an escalating domestic conflict that ultimately led to the couple’s decision to separate.

In amateur video footage circulating online, a man wearing a black t-shirt can be seen operating a chainsaw to split a long wooden table in half. In other footage, several people are visible on the roof helping to remove tiles and cut the wooden framework and walls of the building until the house was separated into two sides.

The incident took place in Mlowokarangtalun Village, Pulokulon District, Grobogan Regency, Central Java.

According to accounts circulating on social media, the husband allegedly became enraged after suspecting his wife of having a relationship with another man. The ensuing quarrel led to the splitting of the house, which the couple had occupied for five years.

The wife, Sutrisni, revealed that arguments in their household had occurred several times and had been mediated twice without resolution. She said the conflict peaked this week when her husband demolished and divided the house, citing the division of gono-gini (marital assets).

“He said it would be split in two. Previously, I had already surrendered and told him to take everything, but he was insistent, so there it is,” Sutrisni said.

She considered the family matter resolved and denied allegations of having a special relationship with another man, saying she had accepted her husband’s actions.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s finished. As for his side, I don’t know,” she said.

Meanwhile, Acting Village Head of Mlowokarangtalun, Wahyudiono, said the village administration had mediated the couple twice. During the first mediation, the husband, identified as Edi, was reportedly emotional after claiming to have caught his wife having an affair with another man. At that time, Edi still gave the relationship a chance on condition that his wife would not repeat the behaviour.

However, during the second mediation, the couple failed to reach common ground and agreed to pursue divorce and divide their marital assets.

“As time went on after they tried to reconcile, a few days later the decision was made to split the house. We had tried to prevent it from happening, but somehow emotions ran high, resulting in what went viral,” Wahyudiono said.

Following the viral incident of the house and furniture being split in two, Edi reportedly returned to his parents’ home in a neighbouring village. He has also filed a divorce petition at the Purwodadi Religious Court.