Once Again, Savage Gangs Run Amok in Jogja

Another young man, identified only as AA (18), died as a result of gang violence in Jogja. The beating that led to AA’s death adds to the list of savage gang incidents in the DIY region after the death of a student in Bantul and a gladiator-duel incident in Pakualaman in March.

AA was killed near SMAN 3 Jogja on Sunday, May 17, in the early hours. Police have arrested three suspects in the case and are still pursuing three more.

‘Alhamdulillah, berkat doa rekan-rekan semua dan seluruh masyarakat, untuk pelaku pembacokan yang di Kridosono, tadi subuh, Kasat Reskrim beserta jajaran bergabung juga dengan Jatanras Polda berhasil mengamankan tiga orang pelaku di daerah Cilacap. Satu orang pelajar, dua orang sudah dewasa,’ said Kombes Eva Guna Pandia, the Jogja City Police chief, at Mapolresta Jogja, on Wednesday (20/5/2026).

Initially AA was thought to be a victim of klitih, but a day later the Jogja Police confirmed that the victim died from being beaten by gang members.

‘So we reiterate again that this was not klitih or street crime,’ Pandia said.

Pandia said preliminary findings suggest the incident was sparked by taunting between two gangs that ended in assault. The perpetrator and victim were believed to be members of school gangs.

‘This is not klitih. It began with taunts between two gangs. Taunts from two gangs so that in the early hours someone died,’ he said.

‘The injuries? Varied, to the chest, and here on the side (abdomen area) as well,’ he added.

Case of the Bantul Student’s Death and Gladiator Duel

Before this case, there were two other gang-related incidents in DIY that drew attention. First, the death of a student in Bantul and gladiator duels as a condition for leaving a gang.

Ilham Dwi Saputra (16) from Pandak, Bantul, was eventually identified. Seven perpetrators turned out to have killed Ilham due to vengeance between gangs.

Ilham was beaten on Tuesday (14/4) night. He required intensive treatment for the injuries sustained and was pronounced dead five days later.

Police then arrested eight people in stages. The seven suspects were BLP (18) from Kretek Bantul, YP (21) from Bambanglipuro Bantul, JMA (23) from Pakualaman Jogja, and RAR (19) from Bantul. Then AS (21) from Piyungan Bantul, ASJ (19) from Kasihan Bantul, AIF from Bambanglipuro, and SGJ (19) from Mantrijeron Jogja.

Ilham was subjected to brutal torture to vent vengeance from clashes between gangs. The victim was taunted via social media and was eventually killed.

‘Motive is revenge. There had been disputes before,’ said Bantul Police Chief AKBP Bayu Puji Hariyanto to reporters at Bantul Police, on Tuesday (28/4/2026).

‘JMA also stabbed the victim 14 times using a pair of scissors prepared at home,’ he added.

Earlier still, residents were shocked by two youths who were slashed. They were forced into gladiator duels as a condition for leaving the gang.

A bloody duel between two groups of students occurred in Pakualaman, Jogja, in the early hours of Wednesday (25/3). As a result, two people sustained slash wounds.

Public relations officer for Jogja City Police, Ipda Anton Budi Susilo, said the case came to light after two victims AP (18) and RA (17) were rushed to Pratama Hospital with slash wounds on Wednesday (25/3).

From there, information emerged that they were victims of gladiator activity or duels between groups. Gladiator activity is a condition for leaving a gang.

‘Through AP’s statements, RA and MR (a witness) are believed to have been part of the Vascal gang and both wished to leave the gang, but others in Vascal would not allow them to leave without a fixed or gladiator duel,’ Anton said when contacted on Thursday (26/3/2026).

As a result of the clash, AP and RA sustained serious injuries. AP suffered slash wounds to the left shoulder, both arms, and the right thumb, and was treated at Wirosaban Hospital.

RA sustained slash wounds to the left chest, side, penetrating the lung, and was treated at Pratama Hospital. However, due to the severity of the injuries, RA was referred to Bethesda Hospital in Yogyakarta.

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(afn/afn)