Banyuwangi Entrance Access Tightened After Clashes Of Silat College Groups

The Jember Police, assisted by the TNI, blocked members of the silat college from Jember from heading to Banyuwangi Regency which was carried out in the Mount Gumitir area, Jember Regency, Thursday (10/3/2022). (ANTARA/HO-Polres Jember)

BANYUWANGI - Access to Banyuwangi, East Java has been tightened. This follows the security conditions in Banyuwangi after clashes between silat schools.

Four points that are closely guarded include the Jember-Banyuwangi border in Kalibaru District, Bondowoso-Banyuwangi in Licin District.

Then Situbondo-Banyuwangi in Wongsorejo District, and Bali-Banyuwangi at ASDP Ketapang Port.

The Head of Ops for the Banyuwangi Police, Kompol Agung Setyo, said the blockade was carried out to anticipate the ongoing impact of the clashes.

"The blockade at the Banyuwangi entrance was carried out to anticipate the impact of this incident," said Head of the Banyuwangi Police Ops, Kompol Agung Setyo Budi, when confirmed, Thursday, March 10.

According to Agung, in securing the area, his party is now assisted by an SSK from the East Java Police Mobile Brigade which is placed at a point prone to clashes.

"Now we are also being backed up by an SSK Brimob Polda Jatim for conduciveness rather than the Banyuwangi Regency in general. But the deployment area for Brimob is in the Bangorejo area," said Agung.

Agung said that the initial clash between the two martial arts schools was actually caused by a viral video circulating on social media. Therefore, he asked not to easily believe in information that is not known to be true.

"Our hope is that you don't believe in hoaxes, this is the result of hoaxes, because of what, he said, he wanted to destroy this, even though there was nothing," said Kompol Agung.

He continued, due to this uncertain news, it caused further clashes. The police were trying to detain both parties.

"Because of the strength of hoaxes and provocations, so that it happened and there were victims. We hope that this will not happen again and we are aware of each other, first check the truth," said Agung.

Agung also informed that after last night's incident, conditions on the ground had returned to being conducive.

"Conditions on the ground after last night's incident, we can overcome by being backed up by TNI colleagues together to create a conducive situation," concluded Agung.