Police Chief Struck by Arrow During Village Clashes in Tual City
Police Chief Injured as Clashes Erupt in Tual City
Clashes broke out in Tual City, Maluku, between Fiditan Baru and Fiditan Lama villages, Dullah Utara sub-district, on Tuesday (24 February) afternoon.
Residents of the two neighbouring villages took to the streets and gathered at the border, carrying weapons such as bows and arrows, machetes, and Molotov cocktails.
They attacked each other with sharp weapons, Molotov cocktails, and by firing bows and arrows. Police officers from the Tual Police, who arrived at the scene, tried to disperse the clashing crowds. Officers fired tear gas at the crowd in an attempt to disperse the warring factions.
The Chief of Police for Tual City, AKBP Whansi Des Asmoro, was reportedly injured after being hit by an arrow in his left leg while trying to mediate the clashes at around 17:30 WIT.
The Head of the Dullah Utara Police Precinct, First Inspector Elyas, confirmed the clashes. He said that as a result of the clashes, one house was burned down, one resident was injured by an arrow, and the Chief of Police for Tual was also injured.
Currently, he said, the Chief of Police for Tual is being treated at the hospital. The arrow that pierced his left leg has been removed by the medical team.
Meanwhile, a resident named Rizki Taweatubun (19) who suffered an arrow wound to his leg is being treated at the Karel Sadsuitubun Regional General Hospital.
The clashes began with residents exchanging insults on social media. After exchanging insults, the residents then consumed traditional alcoholic beverages, specifically sopi. They then took action and burned down one house on Monday (23 February) night.
Residents had come to the location of the house fire. The clashes then broke out, and they attacked each other, firing bows and arrows and throwing Molotov cocktails.
“They exchanged insults on social media, then got drunk and took action. The house that was burned down was empty; there were no occupants,” said Elyas when confirmed by CNN Indonesia.com on Tuesday (24 February) night.
A family consisting of the mother and her daughters was seen panicking and trying to save themselves after hearing Molotov cocktails explode not far from their house.
The clashes continued to escalate until morning. Residents began to gather at the border and attack each other. Elyas said that the clashes broke out three times during the day, or on Tuesday (24 February).
Elyas claimed that the authorities managed to control the border area and successfully repel the clashing crowds after the breaking of the fast. Currently, he said, the situation is gradually becoming more conducive.
“The situation is temporarily conducive,” said Elyas.
The Head of the Public Relations Division of the Maluku Regional Police, Commissioner Rositah Umasugi, revealed the chronology of the arrow piercing the body of the Chief of Police for Tual City.
She said that the incident began at around 16:59 WIT. When the residents of the two villages attacked each other, the Deputy Chief of Police for Tual, Kompol Roni F. Manawan, along with personnel from the Dalmas unit, went to the location to mediate and invite the crowds to dialogue to end the clashes.
The Chief of Police for Tual City, AKBP Whansi Des Asmoro, then took over control of the field to ensure that the handling measures were carried out proportionally and prioritized the safety of the community.
However, Asmoro was injured after being hit by an arrow in the left knee while trying to mediate the clashing crowds. Not only the Chief of Police, but a 19-year-old resident of Fiditan Kampung Baru was also reported to have suffered an injury to his leg.
“Both were immediately evacuated to the Karel Sadsuitubun Regional General Hospital for medical treatment,” she said in a written statement on Tuesday (24 February).
Rositah added that to prevent further clashes, they deployed reinforcements from the Yon C Pelopor unit of the Maluku Regional Police Mobile Brigade. They will guard the two locations that became the sites of the clashes.
Currently, Rositah claims that the situation in the border area has gradually improved around 18:10 WIT.
The crowds from the two warring villages are gradually returning to their respective homes. Although the situation is claimed to be conducive, officers remain on standby to anticipate potential provocations.
(sai/wis)[Gambas:Video CNN]