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Four killed following cockfight flare-up
Four people were killed in protracted clashes following a dispute at a cockfight in the village of Wirabinangun in Lampung province
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Four people were killed in protracted clashes following a dispute at a cockfight in the village of Wirabinangun in Lampung province.
Two of the victims, Suliyanto and Hasan, died in the cockfight arena. The former was a resident of Wirabinangun in Lampung’s Mesuji regency, and the latter was from Rejobinangun village in South Sumatra’s Ogan Komering Ilir regency.
The two other victims were killed in clashes that sprung up between two rival villages.
Tulangbawang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dwi Irianto said police were investigating the incident and had moved Wirabinangun villagers, notably women and children, to a neighboring village.
“We have deployed hundreds of officers to Wirabinangun to prevent further clashes,” he said Friday, adding that police had questioned a number of witnesses, including those involved in the fight.
Dwi said based on witness statements, the clashes were triggered by a dispute over a cockfight.
“Hasan’s cock was beaten in a fight, but he instead demanded that Suliyanto give him his cock, and that triggered a brawl. Hasan attacked Suliyanto with a machete and killed him,” he said.
Dwi added that later, hundreds of Wirabinangun residents caught Hasan and beat him to death. Two of Hasan’s friends managed to flee and reported Hasan’s death to residents of Rejobinangun.
Armed with machetes, spears and home-made firearms, the Rejobinangun villagers marched on Wirabinangun village, ransacking homes in apparent retribution. Houses and motorcycles were set on fire.
The clashes extended into night, and two Wirabinangun villagers, Suwarno and Sumijan, were killed, bringing the number of casualties to four, while many others were reported injured.
Suwarno was hacked with a machete at his farm, while Sumijan was also hacked to death by a crowd at his home.
In Jakarta, however, the National Police gave a drastically different version of events.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Iskandar Hasan said the fight was triggered by some Rejobinangun villagers who attempted to steal livestock.
“The Wirabinangun residents gave chase and caught one. He was later found dead in an oil palm plantation area,” Iskandar was quoted as saying Friday by news portal kompas.com.
Iskandar said the Rejobinangun residents who managed to escape told friends back at their village, who launched a retaliatory attack on Wirabinangun, with the resulting clashes claiming three lives.
