43 People Arrested In The Aftermath Of Clashes At The Batam BP Office, All Of Them Were Tested By Urine

Demonstrations in front of the chaotic BP Batam (ANTARA) office

The Riau Islands Police (Kepri) and the Barelang Police (Batam, Rempang, Galang) arrested 43 people suspected of being perpetrators of violence against officers, as well as destruction during a demonstration in front of the BP Batam Office, Monday. "There were 43 people from the mass demonstration against the relocation in front of the Batam BP Office who were secured. A total of 28 people were arrested by the Barelang Police, while 15 others were secured by the Riau Islands Police," said Kapolresta Barelang Kombes Pol. Nugroho Tri Nuryanto, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 12. Dozens of people were secured were all men. They immediately underwent urine tests to ensure that they were not under the influence of drugs or other banned drugs while participating in demonstrations. Of the 28 people who were arrested by personnel, said Kombes Pol. Nugroho, there were five positive people who were positive for drugs, namely three people who tested positive for marijuana and two others were indicated positive for consuming methamphetamine. Previously, the plan to relocate 16 old Kampung locations on Pulau Rempang, Batam City, still received rejection from the local community. The rejection was demonstrated by the title of the demonstration which was attended by thousands of people on Monday 11 September. The demonstration which was initially peaceful, suddenly chaotic with the mass that destroyed the fence and threw stones at the BP Batam Office. As a result, the fence and glass in the office were destroyed due to an emotional mass tantrum.

From this incident, several officers were injured as a result of being hit by stones and iron. Kombes Pol. Nugroho said 22 joint personnel were injured, consisting of 17 members of the National Police, three Satpol PP personnel, and two personnel from Ditpam BP Batam. Two personnel were hospitalized and one of them underwent surgery due to throwing wounds.