Police Examined Village Head In Buton For The Burning Of Two Houses, Cars And Motorcycles

Screenshot - Police collect evidence at one of the residents' houses that were burned by a mob in Lasalimu Pantai Village, South Lasalimu District, Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi on Monday (22/11) night. Tuesday (11/23/2021) (ANTARA/HO)

KENDARI - Police are questioning the village head and seven residents for allegedly being involved in the burning of houses and a number of vehicles in Lasalimu Pantai Village, South Lasalimu District, Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

Buton Police Chief (Kapolres) AKBP Gunarko, said the eight people were being questioned at the local police station.

"We have taken information from eight people, including the village head, who is suspected of knowing," said Gunarko, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, November 23.

He explained that the eight people being examined, including the local village head, had not been named as suspects because they were still in the process of being investigated.

Previously, Monday, November 22, at around 19.30 WITA, a riot occurred in Lasalimu Pantai Village, South Lasalimu District, Buton Regency.

According to information gathered, the riot was allegedly triggered by a land dispute decision at the Pasarwajo District Court, Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province.

"Initially it was from the civil law, then from the masses who lost the defendant did not accept and carried out anarchic actions," he explained. Gunarko explained that the impact of the riot resulted in two units of residents' houses and three units of two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles being burned and damaged by the masses.

Even so, Gunarko said that currently the conditions at the incident site were starting to become conducive and there were no more mass groups gathering at the location, but as many as 180 police personnel were still on standby to anticipate further riots.

"The situation is under control but the security forces remain on guard. About 180 personnel from the Buton Police, BKO from Baubau Police and Brimob Batauga," he explained.

Losses are estimated at hundreds of millions of rupiah from the burning of houses and several two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles in Lasalimu Pantai Village, South Lasalimu District, Buton Regency.