Villagers destroy police station

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Some 300 residents of Muara Lakitan village ran amok and burned down the local police station on Friday, following fighting between two senior high school students.

South Sumatra Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Sulaiman said on Sunday that the villagers' violence had inflicted a large financial loss on the police.

He said the destruction had started with a fight between Zulkifli, 17, and Lir, 18.

Zulkifli is from Muara Lakitan village while Lir is from the neighboring village of Prabumulih, some 700 meters from Muara Lakitan.

Lir reported to his father, Harun, that he had been beaten by Zulkifli, and this made Harun angry, Sulaiman said.

"Harun and Lir went to the police station where Zulkifli was being questioned on Friday. To the police's surprise the two attacked Zulkifli."

Zulkufli fled and ran to a nearby mosque, asking the people for help from the attack by Lir and his father.

Locals helped Zulkifli, and met Harun and Lir, who were hiding at the police station.

Believing that the police were protecting the people they wanted, the Muara Lakitan villagers then ransacked the police station and set it on fire. --JP