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Social media election challenge ends in fatal shooting
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An illustration of a covered body (Shutterstock/-)
A
challenge on social media related to the 2019 presidential election has led to a death of one man in Sampang regency, East Java.
Suspect Andika allegedly shot Subaidi to death on Nov. 21 with a homemade pistol in a duel, following a heated exchange over a challenge issued in connection with the upcoming presidential election, kompas.com reported.
The duel was triggered by a photo Subaidi’s teacher had uploaded, showing the teacher armed with sharp weapons and a caption challenging supporters of the "other" presidential candidate. Andika accepted the challenge in the photo's comments thread.
A few days later, Subaidi uploaded a video accusing Andika of cowardice for failing to meet his teacher's challenge. He also threatened to kill Andika if they met.
The incident occurred when Andika, a dental technician, apparently cancelled a visit to one of his patients in a local village to meet Subaidi in Sampang. Andika arrived armed with a homemade pistol and Sandika with a bladed weapon. Andika allegedly shot Sandika in the chest and killed him.
“Sampang police officers apprehended the suspect [Andika] mere hours after the incident,” East Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Frans Barung Mangera said on Saturday. It is still unclear which candidate Andika supported.
The Police are charging Andika with premeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty. (kuk)
