Youth gang kills soldier in brawl

PALU, Central Sulawesi: An Army sergeant of the Tadulako military command in Palu, was shot in the head on Sunday morning following a brawl with a group of local youths and died later in the afternoon.

A Tadulako Military spokesman said the incident took place at dawn in front of the command's military barracks, where First Sgt. Abdul Harris (33) and six other soldiers had spent their weekend.

Ten youths riding motorcycles stopped in front of the barracks and shouted at the soldiers, leading to a argument and gunfire that killed Abdul Harris and wounded fellow soldier, Afner (32).

Maj. Dani Koswara, intelligence chief of the Tadulako command, said the city's military and police authorities were investigating the case and some indicators had helped identify suspects, amid speculation that the culprit was a member of the police force.

Meanwhile, retired serviceman Masengi disclosed that a police officer chased a man in the barracks four days earlier who threatened residents of the military camp with a gun. This statement was confirmed by Afner, the other victim now under the hospital care. (24/arp)