Latest Poso attack 'purely criminal'

Latest Poso attack 'purely criminal'

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The recent attack on teenager Tofan Sonpa in Poso Pesisir district here had nothing to do with previous incidents allegedly linked to religious sentiment, police said on Monday.

"This case is strongly believed to be purely a crime and the cause was a dispute over water (for irrigation)," Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rudy Sufahriadi said.

Tofan was stabbed by an unidentified person wearing black attire on his way home from his farm in Sa'atu village on Friday. He is in hospital with serious wounds.

Rudy said that based on statements from witnesses, including Tofan's father Marthen Sonpa, residents of Sa'atu had become angry after irrigation for their farmlands was being impeded. They blamed Tofan for this.

"So, the problem may have been triggered by water distribution problems to their farm areas," Rudy added.

Earlier, sporadic attacks hit Poso, a tiny regency wracked by two years of sectarian fighting that ended in 2001 following a peace deal between local Muslim and Christian leaders.

Last month, unknown killers beheaded three Christian girls in Poso. --Antara