South Sumatra OKU Bunglai Village Office Burned Irrecognized People, Duga Police There Is A Kaitan With Village Head Elections

The OKU Police identification team conducted a crime scene investigation at the Bunglai Village Office which was allegedly set on fire by OTK/ANTARA

OKU - Ogan Komering Ulu Resort Police (OKU), South Sumatra formed a team to investigate the burning case of the Bunglai Village office which was allegedly burned by an unknown person. "It is strongly suspected that this village office was deliberately set on fire by an unknown person," said Head of Public Relations of the OKU Police, AKP Syafarudin in Baturaja, Antara, Monday, January 16. According to him, there were many irregularities in the fire incident at the Bungglai Village Head Office, Kedaton Peninjauan Raya District (KPR), OKU Regency which caught fire last Friday at around 23.00 WIB. Especially when the incident occurred, the PLN network in the village was completely extinguished, so it was impossible to fire due to an electrical short circuit. This allegation was reinforced by a number of evidences found at the scene which led to the arson by irresponsible persons. Based on the results of the crime scene (TKP) the police found a number of evidences such as fifty lide lighter sticks, mineral water bottles, fuel and cloth which were strongly suspected of being used as a tool to burn. Moreover, he said, the condition of the Bunglai Village was slightly heated ahead of the simultaneous village head elections (pilkades) which was held in October 2022. "It is not impossible that this village office burning incident was the result of the village head election some time ago," he explained. The turmoil in conflicts between supporters occurred after the elected village head, Irfan Johan, died before being sworn in as a leader in the village. "Due to this fire incident, the local village head has made a report to the police. This case is still under investigation to reveal the perpetrators," he explained.