Pekanbaru, Riau, Jan 31 (Antarariau.com) - The Riau provincial police has named five of the seven public order agency (Satpol PP) officers in the Rokan Hulu district as suspects in a clash with their counterparts from the neighboring Kampar district.
"They have been named suspects based on adequate evidence and testimonies from the witnesses," spokesman of the Riau provincial police Adj. Snr. Comr. Guntur Aryo Tejo stated here on Friday.
The five Satpol PP officers were allegedly involved in instigating the clash in the Tanah Datar village, on Wednesday evening (Jan. 29), in which seven cars were damaged and dozens of people were injured, he claimed.
Two other officers were released, as there was insufficient evidence to prove their guilt, he pointed out.
"The two people only acted as witnesses and had been questioned," he remarked.
Besides being suspected of provoking the clash, the five Satpol PP officers were also found guilty of vandalizing a number of cars owned by Satpol PP in the Tanah Datar village, he reported.
The Kampar and Rokan Hulu district governments are involved in a territorial dispute over one of the five villages, Tanah Datar.
According to the police, the clash was sparked off by the Kampar district governments plan to put up banners welcoming the social service ministers visit to the Tanah Datar village.
However, the Rokan Hulu district government sent hundreds of Satpol PP officers to the village to guard the local residents in pulling down the banners.
The situation further aggravated when the Kampar district government also sent its Satpol PP officers to the scene, which only added fuel to the fire.
The police officers from the two districts, helped by two platoons of officers from the Provincial police were sent to stop the clash.
"It is very likely that other parties have been involved or are believed to have provoked the clash at the Tanah Datar village," he emphasized.
Five Public Order Officers Named as Suspects in Riau Clash
