Mob in Indonesia’s Lampung Province Burns Down A Police Station

LAMPUNG, KOMPAS.com – A mob in Indonesia’s Lampung Province have taken the law into their own hands in the most inapposite way, by setting fire to a police station at the South Lampung [Lampung Selatan] Regency on Tuesday, May 19.

No casualties were reported in the incident.

An eyewitness to the fire recorded the crowd in Beringin village burning down the police station at the Candipuro district, and uploaded the footage. The video went viral and found its way to the WhatsApp instant messaging apps.

A running narrative he provided discloses the arsons’ motives.

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“The local [people] are furious about lawlessness and robbers operating unchecked,” he intoned in the 15-minute video.

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“So they took [their anger out] on the Candipuro police station by burning it.” He also noted that the hundreds strong mob cheered, as the flames spread through the police station.

The arson culminated month of protests by local people towards the police station, after they felt that the police was not taking enough action against the robbers. “The police neglected their duties, enabling the robbers to act freely in Beringin Village.”

Candipuro police station chief Police Commissioner Attendant Ahmad Hazuan confirmed “that the incident did occur. “However, we have yet to confirm whether all the arsonists are from Beringin Village or other areas,” he said.

Also read: Police Arrests 3 People for Raising Flag of RMS Separatist Movement in Indonesia's Maluku

“The fire hit the offices of the Police’s Integrated center or SPKT. No one was injured in the inferno, as we emptied our cells of prisoners and handed them over to the departmental police in Lampung Selatan because the station was due for renovation.”

He added that two firefighting trucks came and put out the flames. Ahmad denied the mob’s claim that the police are not doing enough to prevent crime.

“We have been attempting to solve robberies and other lawlessness. We also constantly went on patrol to prevent crimes from happening.”

(Writer: Tri Purna Jaya, Lampung Contributor | Editor : David Oliver Purba)

Source: 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/19/054016678/mapolsek-candipuro-lampung-dibakar-massa-polisi-dituduh-tak-mampu-atasi?page=all#page2.