Village chief tortured to death

IPUH, Bengkulu: Hundreds of Makmur Java villagers in North Bengkulu ran amok and tortured to death village chief Syamsul Jakfar, police said.

North Bengkulu police precinct chief Lt. Col. Sugeng Haryanto said that retaliation might be the motive behind the murder, which he said involved locals. The victim, he said, frequently uttered obscene words to the villagers.

Antara reported on Saturday that Saymsul's body was dumped into a river near the village while his house, his motorcycle and car were all burned.

The victim was tortured while most villagers were attending the evening tarawih prayer at the local mosque.

Sulaimah, the victim's wife, and their two children have taken refuge at the house of the Ipuh district chief.

Second Lt. Azwar Effendi, chief of the Ipuh police station, said that 120 residents have been arrested. (rms)