Inter-village brawl death toll rises to 11

LUWU, South Sulawesi (JP): The number of dead victims in a brawl between residents of the neighboring villages of Bonto Karya and Padang Subur in Ponrang district, Luwu regency, some 430 kilometers north of Makassar, has increased to 11 following the discovery of two more bodies on Thursday.

Luwu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anjaya told reporters that seven of the bodies were found at the village of Padang Subur, while the other four were at Bonto Karya.

The fatalities were identified as Laming, Boris, Edmund, Kiki, Abbas, Marten, Iwan, Kasdin, Nawir and Sgt. Maj. (ret) Rante, while the remaining victim was yet to be identified.

Besides the fatalities, Luwu Police also recorded 19 people injured and 73 houses burned during a brawl that erupted early on Wednesday morning.

Following the fierce brawl, five elementary schools and one junior high school in the area were closed last Thursday and will remain shut until the situation returns to normal.

The brawl has also forced residents of both the disputing villages to flee their homes. Some 800 refugees have now taken shelter at Bupon Police Subprecinct Office, Ponrang Military District office and Ponrang District Administration Office in the neighboring town of Palopo, while another 2,000 refugees are currently sheltering on the outskirts of Palopo.

Anjaya said that the police had arrested and questioned nine people, who were believed to have been involved in inflaming the situation. (27/imn)