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ulp and paper mill PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) acknowledged on Friday that it had deployed security apparatus to face villagers in the conflict over a land dispute in Humbang Hasundutan regency, North Sumatra, on Wednesday.

At least five people were injured and an excavator owned by TPL set on fire during the clash.

Police have yet to name suspects in the incident and as of noon on Friday, the situation around the TPL area was under control.

Juanda Panjaitan, speaking on behalf of TPL said security had returned to normal. He acknowledged police had helped with security, including assistance during the clash with the area’s residents. According to Juanda, security carried out by the police was official given that TPL is a vital national asset that should be protected from anarchic acts.

Juanda said that during the clash with residents TPL and police did not retaliate.

“Despite assistance from the police, we were in a defensive position when the residents attacked. As evidence, many victims were from our side. They even injured a police officer and seized his gun,” Juanda told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Based on reports, the clash in the forested area was sparked by the presence of heavy machinery owned by TPL, which was clearing fully grown kemenyan (incense trees) in preparation for building a road. Residents objected to the forest clearance on the grounds that they believed the land status to be customary and still in dispute, while TPL claimed the land was located in the Industrial Forest (HTI) that had been lent to the company until 2035.

“The area is state property but the company has a permit to build a road here because the land is part of TPL’s HTI,” said Juanda.

Pollung resident Marbun, 35, said a village representative attempted to notify the TPL security guards of their objections and demand that the land clearance activities be stopped. However, he said they did not heed the notification and a police officer alledgedly shouted words deemed inappropriate.

“Residents did not accept the harassment and eventually the crowd attacked the security guards and Mobile Brigade personnel,” said Marbun.

North Sumatra Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Heru Prakoso said due to the incident, Humabang Hasundutan Police chief Insp. Gen. Wisjnu Amat Sastro was removed.

“Wisjnu was not present in his jurisdiction when the incident took place as he was in Medan. He is regarded to have failed to carry out the duties authorized to him,” said Heru.

“No one has been named as a suspect yet. An investigative team has just been appointed and they will examine the motives behind the clash,” said North Sumatra Police Crime and Intelligence Unit deputy chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Mashudi.