Two die, 12 houses burned in brawl

MAUMERE: East Nusa Tenggara: At least two people were killed, six others injured and 12 houses set ablaze in a clash on Saturday over a land dispute between residents in Ende regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

Local police are trying to identify those who incited the deadly midday brawl that killed Simon Hami, 50, and Abdullah Mere Angi, 80.

Ende Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tegu Warsono said the problem started after local residents told Simon and his relatives not to measure a plot of land adjacent to the town's newly-inaugurated bus terminal as it was not their property.

Simon then defied the request and went ahead with the measuring, prompting a mob of armed people led by Anton Adam Wara to attack the former's family members.

Police Mobile Brigade personnel later arrived on the scene, but failed to prevent the mob from setting fire to at least 12 houses. The riot brought traffic on the Ende-Flores highway to a halt. --JP