Police Chief and Criminal Investigation Unit Head in Rohil Removed After Residents' Protest Over Drugs

The Police Chief of Panipahan in the Rokan Hilir Police Resort area, Riau, AKP Robiansyah, has been removed following a demonstration by residents demanding the arrest of drug lords. Riau Police Chief Irjen Herry Heryawan confirmed that not only the Police Chief, but also the Criminal Investigation Unit Head of Panipahan Police Station, Aipda Rahmat Ilyas, has been removed. Herry emphasised that this step was taken because the personnel at the police station level were deemed not fully capable of maintaining optimal regional stability, leading to a situation that escalated into an uncontrolled action. The removal serves as a form of evaluation and institutional responsibility regarding the developing public security dynamics in the community. “This is a form of our evaluation and responsibility. We see that there are things that are not running as they should in maintaining the public security situation in Panipahan. Therefore, we are taking firm steps,” said Irjen Herry, quoted by detikcom on Sunday (12/4). Herry assured that Riau Police Headquarters is not standing idly by in response to the incident. From the start of the event, the Rokan Hilir Police Chief along with the Deputy Regent has gone directly to the location to calm the situation by engaging community leaders, religious figures, and customary leaders in dialogue. This step was taken as a quick effort to soothe the public while preventing further escalation. “We moved quickly from the beginning. The Police Chief along with the Deputy Regent has gone directly to the field, inviting community figures to dialogue and calm the situation. This is part of the approach we are taking to ensure conditions become conducive quickly,” he explained. Herry added that the handling efforts do not stop there. Today, Riau Police Headquarters personnel along with the local government are again moving to the location to ensure stability is truly maintained. He stated that the current situation in Panipahan has gradually recovered and public activities have returned to normal. However, strengthening preventive measures and field supervision continues to maintain security stability. Herry also conveyed an appeal to all Panipahan residents to maintain calm and not be easily provoked by issues that could stir up the situation. Previously, hundreds of Panipahan residents in Pasir Limau Kapas Subdistrict, Rokan Hilir Regency, held a protest action on Friday (10/4). The action, which initially proceeded peacefully, was triggered by public anxiety over the rampant drug circulation in the area. Around 150 people from the crowd first gathered at the Great Mosque of Panipahan, then proceeded to the Panipahan Police Station to voice their demands. During the protest, residents urged law enforcement to shut down all drug-related activities. They also demanded the immediate arrest of suspects believed to be drug lords and dealers, including a resident with initials M. After conveying their aspirations to the police and local government officials, the crowd dispersed. However, the situation heated up when some of the crowd moved towards the home of a man with initials A, suspected of being a drug lord. Upon arriving at the location, the crowd immediately threw objects and damaged the house. The action became even more uncontrolled when the number of protesters swelled to around 500 people.