Deploy The Forensic Team, Police Are Looking For The Cause Of 10 Hectares Of Small Riau Giam Siak Forest Fires

The joint team tried to extinguish the forest and land fires in the Giam Siak Kecil Riau Wildlife Sanctuary. (ANTARA/Ho-BBKSDA Riau)

RIAU - An area of 10 hectares of forest in the Giam Siak Kecil Wildlife Sanctuary in Riau experienced forest and land fires (karhutla). The police intervened to investigate the cause.

"I have ordered the Director of Special Crimes to immediately carry out a complete investigation process. We will reveal whether it was deliberately burned for the benefit of individuals or companies," Riau Police Chief Inspector General Mohammad Iqbal when confirmed, Friday, June 23, was confiscated by Antara.

Not only asking for witness statements and looking for evidence, Iqbal will also ask for expert statements for scientific approaches. One of them is by deploying a forensic laboratory team.

"I have deployed a laboratory to find indisputable evidence, so we understand the motives and who the perpetrators are," he continued.

Iqbal promised to take firm action against the perpetrators who deliberately set fire. Because according to him, the fire in Giam Siak Kecil is not only an ordinary forest and land fires, but also concerns natural interests that must be maintained.

Iqbal explained that currently his party is in the process of cooling down after several days of the blackout process.

Similarly, the Head of BBKSDA Riau Genman S Hasibuan explained that the joint team was still at the location of the fire to ensure that the fire would not spread more widely.

He explained that this incident was not a victim. An area of 78 thousand hectares of the Giam Siak Kecil biosphere reserve is a habitat for animals protected by Sumatran tigers and elephants.

"Giam Siak Kecil became the living place for tigers and elephants. Luckily there were no animals that were victims," he said.