One killed in Sumbawa Besar riot

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.