Residents attack neighboring village

KENDAL, Central Java: At least 216 houses were vandalized and two motorbikes and a kiosk were set on fire during a series of clashes that erupted on Monday and Tuesday in Ngilir village here.

Nobody was killed or injured in the fray, the latest to involve residents of Ngilir and their Bandengan foes.

Police chief Lt. Col. Alief Sarjono said on Wednesday thousands of Bandengan men, armed with bamboo poles, swords and machetes attacked Ngilir village in retaliation for a previous assault on two of their neighbors by dozens of Ngilir residents.

"The attackers vandalized buildings and everything they found while they were searching for their Ngilir opponents. Luckily, the violence did not claim any lives because almost all Ngilir villagers had taken refuge before it exploded," Alief said.

Ngilir village remained tense on Wednesday, and dozens of police could be seen patrolling the area.

"Police, local officials and informal leaders from both villages met this afternoon (Wednesday). The warring parties agreed to make peace," he said. (har/edt)