Villagers riot over shrimp

CILACAP, Central Java: Some 150 villagers destroyed a shrimp pond after a row with the owner over sharing the commodity crop.

The villagers from Karanganyar also smashed pond facilities such as water pumps and a security post.

There were no fatalities but some of the villagers were later detained by police for questioning, witnesses said.

The pond's owner, 45-year-old Humaidi, was a relatively newcomer in the area, having come from Brebes in Central Java six months ago.

He admitted he had not known the existing tradition in which villagers expected to be given a share in the harvest. (45/09)