Student Killing at Kampung Gajah Prompts Legislator to Highlight Urgency of Character Education
House of Representatives Commission X Deputy Chairman Lalu Hadrian has responded to the case of a State Junior Secondary School 26 Bandung student who was killed by a peer at the former Kampung Gajah tourism site. Lalu said Commission X is currently drafting regulations on restricting digital access for children.
“Today, those restrictions are being drafted. Like other countries, for example, limiting access for certain ages or school-age children. And in several places this has already begun, in several regions. Including in West Java, which is about to start, and then most recently in Riau, which is also about to begin,” Lalu said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (20 February 2026).
Lalu said the implementation of such regulations must consider their downstream effects. Ideally, digital access should be restricted for school-age children.
“School age, of course. Even primary school pupils are already playing with mobile phones. Primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary students must be restricted. What’s clear is school age. In other countries, some use an age threshold of 16 and below, don’t they? But we’re calling for school age,” he said.
In the case of the junior secondary student’s death, Lalu emphasised character education as a means of preventing violence in school environments.
“Through what? One avenue is character education. Character education is vital, which is why in Law No. 20 of 2003, we in Commission X included it as one of the provisions in the legislation,” he said.
“What is the purpose? To prevent violence occurring in school environments — verbal, physical, and sexual violence. This is the tip of the iceberg. It’s a case of cutting one head and a thousand more sprout. That is what we must anticipate,” he added.
The student from State Junior Secondary School 26 Bandung, identified by the initials ZAAQ, was found dead with multiple stab wounds. News of the student’s death came to light through a TikTok livestream.
ZAAQ was killed on Monday, 9 February 2026, and the body was discovered on Friday, 13 February 2026, on the grounds of the former Kampung Gajah site in Cihideung Village, Parongpong Sub-district, West Bandung Regency.
Police subsequently arrested YA (16) and AP (17) at their residence in Banyuresmi Sub-district, Garut Regency, in the early hours of Sunday (15 February). The pair had stopped in Tasikmalaya before returning to Garut.
“In connection with the discovery of the body at the former Kampung Gajah site, we have secured the perpetrators. There are two individuals, both still minors. We apprehended them in Garut,” said Cimahi Police Chief Senior Commissioner Niko N Adi Putra on Monday (16 February).