Protest in front of the Yogyakarta Regional Police Headquarters Turns Violent, 3 Students Taken to the University

A demonstration took place in front of the Yogyakarta Regional Police Headquarters on Tuesday (24/2) evening. During the demonstration, which turned violent, three students were briefly detained by police officers.

The Head of Public Relations of the Yogyakarta Regional Police, Commissioner Ihsan, expressed regret that the demonstration, which initially aimed to convey aspirations, ended in violence and included damage to facilities.

“We regret that the action turned violent and resulted in damage to the eastern fence of the Regional Police Headquarters. However, overall, the situation was brought under control by officers on the ground,” said Ihsan in a statement on Wednesday (25/2/2026).

Ihsan said that during the demonstration, officers briefly detained three students. However, they were all returned to their respective campuses.

“However, all three were returned to the university authorities at 10:30 PM after coordination with the campus,” he said.

According to him, the security approach was carried out by prioritizing local wisdom and Javanese cultural values. Officers, he said, remained patient and persuasive even when facing a crowd that had acted anarchically.

Ihsan also expressed his appreciation to the people of Yogyakarta, including the Jaga Warga community, who worked together with the authorities to maintain security and public order.

Furthermore, Ihsan emphasized that information circulating about the use of tear gas or warning shots was untrue.

“We emphasize that during the security operation, officers were not equipped with weapons. The sound heard at the location came from firecrackers brought by the protesters,” he said.

On the other hand, he said that the Yogyakarta Regional Police expressed their condolences for the events that occurred in Tual, Maluku.

“We from the Yogyakarta Regional Police express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims related to the events that occurred in Tual, Maluku. Hopefully, the deceased will be accepted for their good deeds, and the families left behind will be given strength and resilience,” he concluded.