Two die, eight missing in Kampar clash
Two die, eight missing in Kampar clash
Puji Santoso, Pekanbaru
Two people died, two more were severely injured and eight others
went missing after a clash between two rival groups of youths in
Kubang Jaya subdistrict, Siak Hulu district, Kampar regency, on
Sunday night.
The situation was still tense after the incident on Monday,
prompting police personnel to evacuate several families from
Nias, North Sumatra, to a safer place.
According to witnesses, the deadly clash began on Sunday
afternoon when Usman, 22, originally from Nias, walked past a
canteen in the subdistrict along with four friends.
Suddenly, an ethnically Melayu youth shouted at Usman from
inside the canteen, but this was ignored by Usman. The youth, who
was apparently drunk along with a group of friends, was maddened
by Usman's cool response and threw a bottle of alcoholic drink at
Usman. Usman reacted to that and the two groups of youths from
different ethnic backgrounds were soon locked in a brawl.
Usman and Yeso, 27, from Nias, were found dead separately
after the brawl. The remains of Usman were found inside a hut
while Yeso's were discovered under a bush, also nearby. Their
bodies were full of stab wounds.
Two other victims with severe injuries, also from Nias, were
Tohu Lahiya, 20, and Santo Hulu, 26.
They were taken to a nearby hospital after the incident.
Chief of Kampar police precinct Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdul Hasyim
Gani confirmed the incident. Abdul Hasyim, who visited Kubang
subdistrict on Monday following the incident, said that he had
just met leaders from both ethnic groups in the subdistrict and
calmed them down.
He said that police investigators had apprehended three people
after the incident. "We're questioning them," he said without
elaborating on which ethnic group the people belonged to. He also
said that police were locating eight other people who went
missing after the fatal incident.
Amoni Harefa, a Nias community leader, demanded police
investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, chief of Siak Hulu police subprecinct Adj. Comr.
Zaenal Arifin said that his men had evacuated several Nias
families from Kubang subdistrict, which is predominantly Melayu,
for fear that they could be the target of further violence.
"We have evacuated them to a safer place until the situation
returns to normal," he said.
Brawls between groups of differing ethnicity, religion or race
are common in Indonesia, a heterogeneous country.