8 People Including TNI/Polri Members Injured Due To Riots In Elelim

One of the buildings that was burned by the masses in the riots in Elelim, Yalimo Regency, Papua Mountains, Tuesday (16/9/2025). BETWEEN/HO-Personal Documentation

JAYAPURA - Papuan Regional Police (Polda) stated that the riots in Elelim, Yalimo Regency, Papua Mountains, left eight people injured.

"The eight injured people consisted of five members of the TNI-Polri and three residents," said Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Kombes Cahyo Sukarnito, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 16.

In addition, he said, the result of the riot also caused 30 kiosks and houses to be burned down.

From the reports he received, the riots also caused 13 motorbikes to be engulfed in flames, and one operational car belonging to the Yalimo Police was heavily damaged, as well as six housing units and one mes Yalimo Police officer being burned.

The riots that occurred in Elelim, said Cahyo, began with an argument between students at SMAN Elelim.

Initially, during the learning process, one of AB's students, allegedly issued a speech that offended his friend who was also a student in that class.

"The words sparked a reaction from several students who then beat AB," he said.

Efforts to resolve the problem have been carried out in the teacher's room, but tensions have not subsided, causing a number of students and the community who have been provoked by these words to persecute AB, and even they attack teachers who are trying to intervene.

The mob then set fire to the kiosk allegedly belonging to AB's parents, who spread to the Yalimo Police officers and dormitories who were near him and various buildings in Elelim.

"Currently, the security forces are still on guard to anticipate further action," said Cahyo Sukarnito.