Police apprehend six individuals involved in 'sarong war' resulting in fatality

Grobogan (ANTARA) - The Grobogan Police, Central Java, is handling a case of ‘sarong war’ by securing six teenagers allegedly involved in a brawl using sarongs, which resulted in one fatality.

Chief of the Grobogan Police, Commissioner Ike Yulianto Wicaksono, in Grobogan, Thursday, said that all the children involved in the ‘sarong war’ have been secured along with evidence of seven sarongs used during the brawl.

“The handling of this case is carried out in accordance with Article 80 paragraph (3) of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, and also refers to the juvenile criminal justice system because the parties involved are still minors,” he said.

He revealed that the brawl between groups of teenagers that resulted in the death of a student occurred at the Sepak Bola Field in Termas Village, Mrayun Hamlet, Karangrayung District, Grobogan Regency.

The incident occurred on Wednesday (February 25) night at around 10:30 p.m. The victim was identified as Zaki Mandala Rifki (16), a 9th-grade student at SMPN Karangrayung, a resident of Mrayun Hamlet RT 03 RW 01, Termas Village.

According to Ike, the incident began at around 9:45 p.m. when the victim sent a message via WhatsApp to one of his friends to invite him to a fight.

The invitation was accepted, and the victim and several friends went to invite other teenagers to join.

“Furthermore, the two groups agreed to meet at the Sepak Bola field in Termas Village as the location for the brawl,” he said.

During the incident, the victim was seen feeling weak and experiencing difficulty breathing before eventually falling and losing consciousness. His friends then took the victim to the edge of the field and took him home.

“The family then took the victim to the Karangrayung I Public Health Center. However, based on the results of the medical examination, the victim was declared dead,” said the Police Chief.

Upon receiving the report of the incident, the Karangrayung Police Sector together with the Inafis Team from the Grobogan Police immediately conducted a crime scene investigation.

He appealed to parents to increase supervision of their children’s activities, especially at night, to prevent similar acts of violence.

“We invite all elements of society to work together to protect our children so that they do not get involved in actions that harm themselves or others,” he said.