Unknown Residents Attack Police, Indigenous Execution In Toraja Stopped

TANA TORAJA - Resort Police (Polres) Tana Toraja was attacked by an unknown group of people (OTK) while overseeing the execution of the Tongkonan Ka traditional house in Rante Kurra Village, Tana Toraja Regency, South Sulawesi, on Thursday, December 4. This sudden attack postponed the execution involving the Makale District Court (PN) decision.

The Saluputti police chief and seven of his members who were at the location were targeted by the attack. They were suddenly attacked using arrows and Molotov cocktails. Police personnel reportedly tried to save themselves as a result of the sudden attack.

"A total of seven members, including the police chief, were suddenly attacked by OTK using bows and Molotov cocktails," explained Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Kasatreskrim) of the Tana Toraja Police, Iptu Syaruddin in his statement, Friday, December 5.

The anarchist action not only targeted the authorities. The OTK also burned heavy equipment in the form of excavators brought in by the Makale District Court to knock down the house of the hangout over the object of the dispute. In addition, the operational car belonging to the Saluputti Police was also a victim of arson in the incident.

Syaruddin confirmed that this attack incident caused the execution process to be postponed. The Tana Toraja Police Inafis team arrived at the scene to conduct a crime scene (TKP) investigation. Officers have secured a number of evidences, including Molotov cocktails, bows, and firecrackers allegedly used by the attackers.

"The execution process was delayed due to an incident. However, we will continue to carry out the investigation into the attack and burning of heavy equipment," said Syaruddin.