Sarong Fight Claims Life in Grobogan, Death Initially Staged as Accident

A teenager with initials ZMR (16) died after becoming involved in a sarong-fighting duel at a football field in Mrayun hamlet, Termas Village, Karangrayung District, Grobogan Regency.

The incident, which occurred on the evening of Wednesday, 25 February, led to police investigation and the detention of several parties.

Victim invites other group to fight

Ipda Arif Suryanto, Acting Head of Public Relations for Grobogan Police, explained that the incident began with a WhatsApp message sent by the victim to his friend, MAM.

“Witness 1 MAM received a WhatsApp message from the victim with initials ZMR (16) asking (to fight with another group),” said Arif on Thursday, 26 February.

The invitation was accepted. The victim then picked up MAM and invited two other teenagers to join.

“Subsequently, the victim together with witness 1 approached witness 2 with initials PA and also visited the house of witness 3 with initials DKB to invite them to join the fight as well,” explained Arif.

They then approached another group within the same hamlet and agreed to hold the duel at the football field.

“They were hanging around in the same hamlet area. Those found there included individuals with initials FM, RNE, and DRK. The invitation was accepted, with the location agreed upon being the football field,” clarified Arif.

Duel ends with victim collapsing and dying

Both groups met at the field and engaged in a sarong fight using cloth with tied ends.

“The fight between both parties used sarongs with tied ends, which caused the victim to initially become weak and experience difficulty breathing. Eventually, the victim fell to the ground and lost consciousness,” said Arif.

The victim was initially taken home by his friends.

“Subsequently, the victim’s friends brought him to the edge of the field and then transported him to his home,” said Arif.

The family then took the victim to a health facility, but his life could not be saved.

“The victim’s family then brought him to Karangrayung I Primary Health Centre for treatment or examination, but based on medical personnel’s examination, the victim was declared deceased,” he continued.

Suspected perpetrators attempted to fabricate story

The victim’s grandfather, Muhnadi, revealed suspicions of information manipulation by those involved. He stated that initially the family was told the victim had suffered a single motorcycle accident.

“These seven people (suspected perpetrators) when giving this information essentially lied. Initially they said he fell from a motorcycle. Then the motorcycle was turned on, with the victim beside it,” Muhnadi told media.

“So it was thought that if people passed by later, they would say there was a traffic accident. But the ones who staged it were these people,” he added.

Iptu Imam Siswanto, Head of Criminal Investigation Unit at Grobogan Police, confirmed the alleged fabrication attempt.

“The information was like that (the suspects allegedly staged it as a single-vehicle accident). But after we checked, it was (an) assault case, there was no accident or (that statement) is false,” said Imam.

Seven sarongs secured

The victim’s family reported the incident to Karangrayung Police Station. Police subsequently conducted a crime scene examination and detained the parties involved.

Officers also seized seven sarongs as evidence.

“And successfully secured all the children involved in the fighting incident along with evidence consisting of seven sarongs of various brands and colours to the Women and Children Unit of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Grobogan Police for further investigation and prosecution,” said Iptu Imam Siswanto, Head of Criminal Investigation Unit at Grobogan Police.

Imam added that witness examination had been conducted.

“Six witnesses have been questioned,” he said.

He also confirmed there were no hard objects inside the sarongs.

“Six witnesses have been questioned, there were no stones (inside the sarongs),” said Imam.

Victim suffered bruising

According to Muhnadi, his grandson suffered multiple bruises on the back of his body.

“There were bruises here (nape of neck), back, rear,” said Muhnadi to media whilst touching his nape.

Nevertheless, the family stated they did not wish for the case to proceed to legal prosecution.

“We just want to settle this peacefully,” said Muhnadi.

Meanwhile, police are still awaiting forensic laboratory examination results to determine the exact cause of the victim’s death.

“The cause (of death) is awaiting labfor results,” said Imam when asked for confirmation on Thursday, 26 February.