Securing Evictions In Batam, Brimbob Members Affected By Bows

Brigpol Toto Harianto (right) was hit by arrows while securing the eviction of illegal settlements in Batu Ampar District, Batam City, Riau Islands, Wednesday (5/7/2023). (ANTARA/Ilham Yude Pratama)

KEPRI - A member of the Riau Islands Police Mobile Brigade (Kepri) was hit by an arrow while securing the eviction of illegal settlements in the Seribu Tank area, Batu Ampar District, Batam City, Wednesday, July 5.

The Brimob member was hit by arrows after residents who refused to be evictions were involved in a commotion with joint officers from the TNI, Polri, and the local Satpol PP.

"The officer has been taken to the hospital. Luckily (he) was wearing a complete vest, so the wound was not too serious," said Kasihumas Polresta Barelang AKP Tigor Dabariba in Batam, Riau Islands, Wednesday, July 5, which was confiscated by Antara.

The Brimob member of the Riau Islands Police is known as Brigpol Toto Harianto. Toto was hit by an arrow on the left shoulder and was immediately rushed to the hospital by his colleague.

Until this afternoon, the riots had been successfully suppressed and the officers had dispersed. Previously, in order to reduce the riots, the police were forced to fire tear gas at the crowd.

At the location, a joint team of police, TNI, and Satpol PP also found several sharp weapons, namely bows along with arrows, machetes, and wood that had been given nails, which were suspected to be used to attack the authorities.

In addition, officers also arrested as many as 14 people who were suspected of being the trigger for the chaos of residents in the area. Officers took the dozens of people to the Barelang Police.