KPAI Requests Protection for SMP Student Victims of Stray TNI Bullet in Gresik

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has requested psychological counselling and legal protection for junior high school students suspected to be victims of a stray bullet from the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) in Gresik, East Java.

“KPAI expresses sympathy and in accordance with Child Protection Law Article 59A, the legal process must be swift and the child must receive psychological counselling as well as legal protection,” said KPAI member Diyah Puspitarini on Tuesday (7/4), as quoted from Antara.

KPAI has received a complaint about this case and will convey it to relevant parties, including the Ministry of Defence.

“KPAI has received a complaint about this case and will follow it up by directly conveying it to the relevant parties, including the Ministry of Defence,” said Diyah Puspitarini.

Previously, the suspected stray bullet incident occurred when students were participating in a school socialisation activity at one of the state junior high schools in Gresik, East Java, on Wednesday (17/12/2025).

Meanwhile, approximately 2.3 kilometres from the victims’ school, there is a TNI AL shooting range where routine shooting training was taking place at the time.

There were two children who became victims of the stray bullet, namely DFH (14) and RO (15).

After the incident, both were immediately rushed to Siti Khodijah Hospital in Sepanjang, East Java, for intensive treatment.

From the X-ray results, a bullet was found lodged in the left hand of DFH and in the right back of RO.

The victims DFH and RO subsequently underwent major surgery to remove the bullet.

DFH suffered a broken bone in the palm of his left hand and had a pin inserted.

Navy Statement

Previously, the Navy through the Marine Corps issued a statement regarding the suspected stray bullet incident that hit students at SMPN 33 Gresik.

The stray bullet is suspected to have come from shooting training by TNI AL soldiers at the Bumi Marinir Karangpilang Shooting Range in Surabaya, which is about 2.3 kilometres from the victims’ school.

The bullet was reported to have penetrated the left arm of DFH, reaching the bone and lodging in the back of the hand. Meanwhile, another bullet also hit his friend, RO, and lodged in the lower right back.

After the incident, at the hospital, Navy representatives met with the families and confirmed that the training was attended by four battalions, namely Engineering, Infantry, Military Police, and Infantry Battalion.

Legal Officer of the 2nd Combat Support Regiment (Menbanpur), Major Ahmad Fauzi, emphasised that his side had taken swift action since receiving information about the mishap, although the origin of the projectile is still under investigation.

The Navy had apologised. However, the victims’ side claimed to have experienced a series of alleged intimidation.

“We need to explain and emphasise that since receiving information about the incident, the unit moved quickly to coordinate and investigate in the field, visiting the school location and ensuring that both victims received medical treatment,” said Legal Officer of the 2nd Combat Support Regiment Major Ahmad Fauzi in his official video statement on Friday (3/4).

“Although to date it cannot be confirmed that the bullet came from the Corps. Further investigation and in-depth examination are still needed,” he added.

In his statement, Ahmad Fauzi also claimed that the unit has taken full responsibility for the medical treatment needed by the victims. This includes funding the bullet removal surgery at Siti Khadijah Hospital, treatment during recovery, and providing compensation to the victims’ families.

“That the unit has provided treatment at Siti Khadijah Hospital in the form of funding the entire bullet removal surgery, treatment during surgery and follow-up checks. And providing compensation to the family,” he said.

Ahmad Fauzi then highlighted several objections from the victims’ families, including demands for material and immaterial compensation in large amounts. His side claimed that the compensation amount demanded by the complainants through their legal representatives was not based on reasonable principles.

“The mediation process did not proceed as expected because the victims’ side submitted material and immaterial demands in the form of a sum of money that we consider unreasonable and unjust. In the first summons on this date, we responded on 28 January. Demands for material and immaterial compensation of Rp3,375,000,000 for both victims,” he said.

In addition to compensation issues, Ahmad Fauzi also denied allegations of intimidation by Marine officers against the victims’ families. He explained that the presence of personnel at the hospital when the victims were being treated was to investigate technical aspects of the projectile and was conducted in open communication.

“We emphasise that there has never been any intimidating action against the victims’ families. The presence of the mentioned officers was solely for the purpose of technical investigation related to the projectile and communication was conducted in an open situation without pressure. We greatly respect the rights and dignity of the victims’ families,” he stated.

To date, Fauzi emphasised that the Navy remains open to dialogue with the victims’ families. Fauzi also revealed that one of the parents of another student victim, R, has agreed to take the family route.

Previously reported by several media outlets, the mother of victim DFH explained that due to the stray bullet, her child’s arm could no longer be bent or straightened normally. The victim’s mother claimed to have experienced pressure during her child’s treatment at the hospital.

One of them was regarding the treatment room, where she previously claimed that the Navy directed that the victim receive maximum service. Then regarding the officers who came to the hospital and requested the removed bullet. That request was reportedly rejected by the victims’ family to wait until the stray bullet issue was clarified.

Then the mediation between the victims’ family and the Navy that was held previously regarding compensation also reached a deadlock. The victim’s mother was also reportedly asked to make a video apology. Regarding what happened, the victims’ family also reported to the Navy Military Police (POMAL).