The National Police Calls Eye Gas Entering School Areas On Pulau Rempang Due To Blown Wind

Dozens of students are said to have been victims of tear gas shot by police officers during a riot incident on Rempang-Galang Island, Batam, Riau Islands. The National Police claimed that the cause was due to the wind inflated tear gas.

"What is there is because of security measures by the police by spraying tear gas in the wind, resulting in temporary vision disturbances," said Karo Penmas of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan to reporters, Friday, September 8.

In addition, the shooting of tear gas was said to have no intention of injuring. Instead, it was aimed at dispersing the crowd who had clashed with the officers.

"This is a security activity, as a result of the tear gas whose goal is to disperse residents," he said.

In fact, it was emphasized that in the incident there were no casualties from the community. Currently, conditions and situations are said to be conducive.

"There are no casualties on the part of the community and on the part of the security forces," said Ramadhan.

Previously, joint officers from the National Police, TNI, Ditpam of the Batam Concession Agency (BP), and Satpol PP were involved in clashes with residents of Rempang who were guarding the measurement process on Thursday.

The commotion broke out when joint officers arrived at the location. The commotion was triggered because residents still did not agree with the development of the area, which is a traditional village of the Malay people. As a result of the commotion, officers were forced to fire tear gas because of the unfavorable situation.

"There were dozens of students who I knew were taken by ambulances to the hospital for treatment. The tear gas was carried away by the wind, because it was noisy near our school," said Principal of SMP Negeri 22 Muhammad Nazib when met at the location.