Island in focus: Palu residents clash, bike burned

PALU: A clash between residents in Palu left a motorcycle destroyed on Saturday. The residents came from Nunu subdistrict, West Palu, and Tawanjuka subdistrict, South Palu.

Palu Police chief Adj. Sn. Comr. Ahmad Ramadhan confirmed that the incident took place at 5 p.m. (4 p.m. Jakarta time), triggered by insults shouted at Nunu residents.

“Nunu residents thought that those who shouted at them were from Tawanjuka,” Ahmad told The Jakarta Post.

The incident took place at a gathering of young people in a field in Nunu. Two youths, who were passing on a bike, were alleged to have shouted at those in the field. ”They chased and caught the youths before burning the bike, although the youths managed to flee,” Ahmad said, adding that the police had detained the two motorcyclists for questioning.

A large number of people gathered, several of whom carried weapons but the situation was calmed by the deployment of a platoon of Police Mobile Brigade members.