Police Officer Kneels and Pleads with Residents to Prevent Clashes in East Nusa Tenggara
Kupang, VIVA – Aipda Arladius Modestus Arno, a community policing officer (Bhabinkamtibmas), recounted how he knelt down with hands clasped, tearfully pleading with two feuding groups of residents – one from Gendang Kaca and the other from Gendang Bung Leko – who were clashing on the Trans Flores highway in Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara on Tuesday, 16 March 2026.
“The situation at that time was becoming increasingly tense, with the two groups unwilling to agree to a peaceful resolution,” he said when contacted by ANTARA news agency from Kupang on Wednesday.
His colleagues from the police force, he stated, had already attempted to prevent the confrontation from escalating further and causing fatalities through various means.
Officer Arno then spontaneously knelt down whilst crying, pleading with both groups to cease their conflict.
According to Arno, both feuding groups were his responsibility as residents under his care, as both areas fell within his policing jurisdiction.
“To me, they are my brothers and sisters. During duty, they often invite me to eat at their homes, we share stories and gather together,” he said.
For this reason, witnessing the confrontation deeply disappointed and saddened him. He spontaneously pleaded for the conflict to end.
His actions succeeded in halting the inter-youth conflict in the area. However, Arno believed the cessation of conflict was not solely due to his efforts but also due to assistance from other police officers.
“Even now, tensions remain in that area. I hope the situation improves soon,” he added.
Kombes Henry Novika Chandra, Deputy Commander of East Nusa Tenggara Police, stated that the Indonesian National Police (Polri) consistently prioritises persuasive and humanitarian approaches when addressing potential conflicts within communities.
According to him, the presence of police officers at the incident site was solely to maintain security and protect all residents without taking sides with any particular group.
“In situations with potential for conflict, our officers in the field consistently prioritise dialogue and humanitarian approaches. The aim is to prevent violence and ensure public safety remains our primary priority,” he said.
He further added that police have issued appeals to all residents to avoid being easily provoked by issues that could trigger conflict, whilst encouraging all parties to maintain brotherhood and peace in the Manggarai region.