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Homicides on rise in North Sumatra: Police
The North Sumatra Police reported that this year alone, as of October, they have handled 96 murder cases, an increase of 18 cases compared to the same period last year.
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An illustration of a murder scene. (Shutterstock/-)
T
he number of murder cases in North Sumatra has increased significantly in the past year with another two cases involving multiple homicides last month.
In October, a family of three in Deli Serdang was murdered, allegedly by neighbors who were reportedly mocked by the family. The police arrested three people, but shot a fourth to death when the person allegedly resisted arrest.
Another family of four in Samosir was also murdered the same month, but no suspect has been named so far. The head of the family was suspected to be involved, but he committed suicide after his wife and their two children were killed.
The North Sumatra Police reported that this year alone, as of October, they had handled 96 murder cases, an increase of 18 cases compared to the same period last year.
“Of the cases, 98.5 percent can be solved by the police,” said the head of the violent crimes sub-directorate of North Sumatra Police’s general crimes investigation directorate, Adj. Sr. Comr. Maringan Simanjuntak.
The police also said that the motive for the murders was most often robbery or revenge and most of the perpetrators were under the influence of drugs.
Drugs, however, were not necessarily involved in the last two cases.
Psychologist Irna Minauli of the Medan Area University said drugs make people lose control of their emotions.
“They become impulsive and they will react negatively to unpleasant things. They are even capable of killing people they consider to be hampering their interests,” Irna said.
