Labourers in Dompu Clash Over Rice Harvesting Wages, Leading to Machete Attack

A group of labourers in Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), became embroiled in a heated dispute over rice harvesting wages in the early hours of Wednesday, 25 February 2026. The verbal confrontation escalated into a violent attack, with one worker suffering serious injuries requiring hospitalisation at Dompu Regional Public Hospital.

According to Iptu I Nyoman Suardika, Head of Public Relations at Dompu Police Station, the incident originated from a disagreement between the victim and alleged perpetrators concerning payment for rice carrying services. The victim’s remonstrations reportedly offended the other workers involved.

The incident began when a group of labourers gathered in Manggeasi Village, Dompu District, to discuss wages for the rice harvesting work they had undertaken. During the discussion, tensions escalated when the victim, identified as W, made comments deemed offensive to the other workers. The situation quickly deteriorated when the other labourers, angered by the remark, retrieved sharp weapons including machetes, axes, and spears as they searched for W.

Upon locating the victim, one suspect identified as H immediately attacked W with a machete, causing him to fall and sustain serious injuries. Following the attack, W managed to escape to Dompu Police Station to report the incident. Officers immediately evacuated W to Dompu Regional Public Hospital for medical treatment.

Police launched an immediate pursuit and arrested one suspect, R, who was apprehended whilst sleeping in a house in Saka Hamlet, Manggeasi Village. However, another primary suspect involved in the machete attack remains at large and continues to be pursued by law enforcement officials.