Onion Farmer Beaten by Mob in Dompu Following Child Abuse Rumours
An onion farmer identified by the initials H (42) was beaten by a mob following the emergence of child abuse rumours in Manggelewa District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Residents also set fire to a hut and a harvested crop of shallots belonging to the farmer, who is originally from Bima Regency, NTB.
The Head of Public Relations for the Dompu Police, First Inspector I Nyoman Suardika, confirmed the alleged abuse that led to the mob attack and arson. He stated that residents who were consumed by the rumours of molestation vented their anger through the assault and burning.
"The alleged abuse triggered the mob’s fury," Suardika said in a statement on Thursday (30/7/2026).
Video footage showing the burning of the hut and the shallots went viral on social media starting Monday (27/7). Based on the circulating video, a group of people watched as the hut and piles of dried shallots were burned along with a tarpaulin. A water pump machine was also set on fire.
The assault and arson occurred in a village in Manggelewa District, Dompu Regency, on Sunday (26/7). Police later evacuated H from the mob and secured the onion farmer at the sub-district police headquarters.
"We evacuated H from the location. This action was purely aimed at saving the life of the alleged perpetrator from the threat of the emotional mob," Suardika added.
Suardika noted that the case has continued to develop with the submission of three different reports concerning the same incident. The first report involves the alleged child abuse, the second concerns the mob attack, and the third relates to the destruction of property.
"Our team has carried out a series of investigative processes into the three alleged criminal acts, including medical examinations, witness interviews, crime scene checks, and coordination with the Office of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection as well as a psychologist. We will thoroughly investigate all aspects of this case transparently and fairly," he concluded.