Police Investigate Religious Affairs Officials Related to the Case of 3 Ponpes Batukliang Students Burned to Death

MATARAM - The Central Lombok Police, West Nusa Tenggara, are investigating officials from the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) regarding the alleged case of 3 students being burned at the Batukliang area boarding school (ponpes).

Head of the Public Relations Section of the Central Lombok Police (Loteng) Iptu Lalu Brata Kusnadi said the examination took place today.

"Yes, today someone was asked for information from the Ministry of Religion," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, June 11.

The examination was a follow-up to his party sending a letter of request for information, Tuesday (9/6).

He said that the request for information from the Ministry of Religion was related to the search for information regarding the legality of the pesantren pondok which was the location of the incident.

"Because the ponpes is under the supervision of the Ministry of Religion. That's what we're investigating. Whether there is a permit or not, how the results will be, we will convey," he said.

He reminded the handling of the case for the follow-up report of one of the parents of the ink victim was still in the investigation stage.

In this stage, the police are still investigating whether there are elements of negligence from the boarding school until three students become victims.

In this series of investigations, the police also collected evidence from the victim's and family's statements, as well as the administrators of the boarding school.

The case of alleged arson with three santri victims occurred in November 2025. This case also only became public attention after a video showing the child victim receiving medical treatment for burns went viral on social media.

This issue also received attention from the Mataram City Child Protection Agency (LPA). Joko Jumadi as chairman of the agency admitted that he was concerned after seeing the video of the child victim uploaded by the owner of the account named @Tiara Erna BenKinara Cahya.

From the results of the LPA investigation, the three victims are still sitting in the first grade of the madrasah tsanawiyah. They are reported to have been sprayed with fuel before being burned by other students.

As a result of the incident, two victims suffered serious burns, while another victim was reported dead.

"There are three victims. Two were burned and one died," said Joko.