One killed in villagers' fray

DENPASAR, Bali: A 50-year-old man was killed and several others were seriously injured in a violent clash in Buleleng regency, some 100 kilometers north of here on Monday.

Buleleng Police chief Supt. Abdul Rahman said I Ketut Sumenaka, a resident of Patemon village, died of severe slash wounds. Another Patemon resident, Bagor, 23, was injured.

The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital soon after the police arrived.

Bali Police spokesperson Ass. Supt. Andi Arwita said the clash between the residents of Patemon and Kalopaksa villages started after two unidentified men attacked a minibus driver, I Made Darmandi, a Patemon villager, on Saturday.

"The assailants were believed to be residents of Kalopaksa," she said.

On Monday morning, dozens of Patemon villagers, armed with swords and sticks, stormed the Seririt market and destroyed shops belonging to Kalopaksa residents, she said.

"They then marched to the Kalopaksa village and were confronted by scores of its residents. The clash between the Patemaon and Kalopaksa villagers was stopped by police officers," Andi said. (zen)