Villagers destroy police station

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