Local journalist wounded in Central Sulawesi

Risky job: Solahudin, the chief editor of Nuansa TV, is transferred from Undata hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi to Pendidikan Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi, after being shot by an airsoft gun on Wednesday. Solahudin was covering a brawl in Sigi regency, Central Sulawesi, when he was shot in the neck. (Antara/ Mohamad Hamzah)

A local journalist, Solahudin, from Nuansa TV was shot with an airsoft gun while he was covering a recent brawl between residents of Binangga village and Padende village in Sigi regency, Central Sulawesi.

“Solahudin was shot in the right side of his neck. An airsoft pellet is currently still lodged in his neck,” said Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto on Wednesday.

Solahudin, who is the television station’s chief editor, was rushed to Undata Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

Solahudin was transferred to Pendidikan Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi, because the hospital had more sophisticated equipment to remove the projectile.

The coordinating minister said that although police were still investigating the shooting, officers suspected that the perpetrator was among residents involved in the brawl.

The residents of the two villages clashed on Aug. 20, leading to the death of Yahya, a Binangga village resident. (riz)