One killed in Sumbawa Besar riot
Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara
At least one person has been killed and eight others injured in a riot, following a demonstration against the local police office in the Sumbawa Besar regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday.
Gathan, a civilian who joined the protest, was shot in the forehead and died shortly after being taken to hospital.
Among those who were injured were Gufron, Sirajuni, Mahsun, Ramli, and Ukang.
The incident prompted the dismissal of Sumbawa Besar Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Bambang Suharno and his deputy Comr. Taufik Wijaya.
The riot broke out during a rally involving local residents and university students who were protesting the death of Mustakim, a student at Samawa University.
Around 500 people, including students from numerous universities and motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, had been staging protest rallies to demand a probe into Mustakim's death since Wednesday.
The protesters turned violent on Thursday after the Sumbawa Police claimed that Mustakim had died from a drug overdose. The protesters could not accept the explanation. They suspected that Mustakim, 22, died after he was tortured by police officers.
However, Sumbawa deputy police chief Comr. Taufik Wijaya challenged those accusing the police of torturing Mustakim.
"I will drink the blood of whoever accuses the police of causing Mustakim's death," he said.
On Thursday, angry protesters stoned the Sumbawa Police station and damaged a police post. They also beat two police officers who tried to mingle with the crowd.
The mobs set the police office and one car on fire. They also damaged a car and a house belonging to the Sumbawa Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Bambang Suharno.
When the protesters reached the intersection between Jl. Hasanuddin and Jl. Kartini, they were blocked by a police's mobile brigade, but the mobs stoned the police officers.
The police opened fire in retaliation and the mobs dispersed. Gathan was believed to have been shot during the commotion, while the police went after the protesters who disappeared into a nearby housing complex.
Mustakim, a first-year student at Samawa University, died on Tuesday evening after being taken by police officers from the hospital where he had been treated for light injuries sustained in a traffic accident.
Sources at the hospital said at least six police officers dragged the victim out of the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, beat him and threw him into a patrol car.
Hours later, the police returned Mustakim to the hospital already dead, the sources said.
Mustakim's relative Husain said his body was covered in wounds when handed over to his family.
Following the dismissal of Bambang Suharno and Taufik Wijaya. the National Police chief had assigned Sr. Comr. Syafdinan and Comr. Irianto to their posts.
"Based on the National Police chief's instruction, I take over the post for an indefinite period," Syafdinan told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
He added that the Sumbawa Police had arrested three police officers over the death of Mustakim.
The riot had prompted the deployment of police officers and military troops around Sumbawa Besar's downtown area. Sumbawa Police had also issued a red alert. By Thursday afternoon, however, the situation in Sumbawa had returned to normal.