Two Islamic Boarding School Leaders Named Suspects in Fatal Santri Burning Case in NTB

The Central Lombok Police in West Nusa Tenggara have officially named two suspects in the case of a fire that killed a student at an Islamic boarding school in Batukliang district. The tragic incident resulted in the death of one student and serious injuries to two others. The Head of Public Relations for the NTB Regional Police, Commissioner Mohammad Kholid, stated that the suspects are a 55-year-old boarding school leader, identified by the initials MR, and a 15-year-old student, identified as AMR, who was a friend of the victims. The suspects were named following a case review. They are considered negligent, leading to the death and serious injury of the victims. The incident occurred on Saturday, 13 December 2025, but only came to light after the victims’ families filed a report in June 2026. The case began when MR asked one of the victims to buy one litre of petrol to use as a substitute for thinner to clean wall scribbles. After the painting was done, the remaining fuel was taken by the student suspect and the victims to an empty room. Inside the room, five children were gathered to make a V-shaped wooden catapult. According to police, they mistakenly believed that burning the wood would make it stronger. The student suspect attempted to pour some of the fuel onto a piece of plastic paper and set it alight. However, the fire spread to the remaining petrol in the bottle and other items in the room. As the fire grew, panic ensued. The suspect tried to extinguish the flames by hitting the bottle, but the fire spread to a mattress and became uncontrollable. Three students were trapped in the locked room before being rescued and taken to a community health centre. A 13-year-old student, identified by the initials NSS, died after receiving medical treatment. Two other victims, Ahmad Deven Ramdan, 14, and Sahid Al Hudri, 12, suffered burns. Police have examined at least 20 witnesses, including criminal and medical experts, processed the crime scene, and seized several pieces of evidence. The suspects are charged under Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80, paragraphs (2) and (3), of Law Number 35 of 2014 on Child Protection, and Article 466, paragraphs (2) and (3), of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code concerning negligence causing death.