P

olice in North Sumatra on Thursday shot and injured five residents and held five others as a land dispute turned violent.

Residents of Batang Kumu village, Tambusai district, and Rokan Hulu regency, Riau, clashed with security guards of PT Mazuma Agro Indonesia (MAI) and members of the police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob)over a disputed area of land near the border between Riau and North Sumatra.

Legal advisor for the Batang Kumu residents Nasir Sihotang said the clash was triggered by the presence of heavy machinery owned by PT MAI on the disputed land.

“The residents protested and drove away the heavy machinery as they claimed the land was theirs,” Nasir told The Jakarta Post by phone.

The protest met resistance from dozens of security guards who were assisted by 10 fully-geared Brimob personnel from the North Sumatra Police headquarters who were deployed from Sipirok, South Tapanuli regency.

Protesters who were shot in the melee were identified as Franky Dolok Pasaribu, Lomo Sihombing, Jansen Sirait, Ranto Sirait and Johanes Sitorus.

“The wounded were evacuated to the Pasir Pangaraian regency hospital. They were initially rushed to the Dalu-Dalu community health clinic located 50 kilometers from the scene of the clash, but their injuries were apparently serious. They were mainly shot in the legs and the bullets were still lodged there, so the clinic was unable to handle them,” said Nasir.

“The whereabouts of the five residents apprehended by Brimob personnel remain unclear as of now. I cannot provide their identities yet because their identities must be confirmed by their families. But for sure, the Brimob members took a woman and four men with them,” he added.

Riau Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Syarif Pandiangan said that he had been informed about the missing residents.

“We will investigate it. The case has been coordinated with Rokan Hulu police and others at the North Sumatra Police headquarters,” Syarif said as quoted by Antara.

The dispute between Batang Kumu residents and PT MAI over a 5,800-hectare plot has been going since 1998. Legal proceedings are still underway, with the case at the appellate level now.

“Residents won the case at the Pasir Pangaraian District Court, but the company filed for an appeal at the Supreme Court last year. However, the company has not respected the initial ruling and continues activities on the land, to the anger of the residents,” said Nasir.

“At the Pasir Pangaraian District Court, residents won because PT MAI was found to have seized the land. It operates in Rokan Hulu without a business license and the location permit was issued by the South Tapanuli regency administration,” he added.

Nasir expressed regret over the involvement of Brimob personnel in securing PT MAI’s operations.

“The land has been secured by armed Brimob personnel for the past two weeks. The police were asked to withdraw their personnel from the disputed land yesterday, but they remained,” he said.