Villages tense after clash kills one

Apriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post Medan, North Sumatra

Tension engulfed on Tuesday two villages in Kuala subdistrict, Langkat regency, North Sumatra, after clashes involving rival gangs there were responsible for the death of at least one person and another who was seriously injured.

Most residents in the villages of Namu Belin and Beruam chose to stay home all day for fear of being attacked by feuding gangs.

Police deployed personnel to ensure security in the two villages and prevent the violence from spreading.

"I have instructed all subdistrict police chiefs in Langkat to immediately confiscate all sharp weapons," Langkat Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Arman Depari told The Jakarta Post.

He said the police would "raid" each village in search of weaponry.

Earlier on Monday evening, Budiman Ginting alias Bogel, a 25- year-old man from Beruam, was killed in one of the clashes with the Namu Mbelin fighters.

Tinus Sitepu, 22, from Namu Mbelin was seriously wounded in the brawl, which erupted on Kuala-Bahorok street at around 7 p.m. He is being treated at Pirngadi hospital in Medan, for stab wounds in the leg and chest.

The death of Budiman incited anger among his friends from Beruam, who then vowed to take revenge by attacking the men from Namu Mbelin.

Fears of further violence sparked tension among local residents and others in neighboring villages across Kuala subdistrict.

Arman, who visited the area, said he had arranged a meeting with local community and gang leaders to stop the fighting.

Kuala Police chief First Insp. Darwin Sitepu said his detectives were searching for the people blamed for the death of Budiman, adding that at least two suspects from Beruam had already been arrested.

He said the police had also found several sharp weapons at the scene as evidence in the investigation.

It remained unclear what caused the brawl. Arman did say that there were other issues in the past between the two gangs.