Batam land dispute ends in two deaths, 10 injured after clash
The clash was believed to be precipitated by a conflict over a 77-hectare plot of land.
On Monday afternoon, a land dispute in Batam's Setokok area resulted in two deaths and ten injuries. The clash occurred at Barelang Bridge III and involved air rifles and sharp weapons. The victims were Heri Ndondo and Edi Palue, both security guards affiliated with a group that helped tenant farmers from East Nusa Tenggara. They were killed by members of the Sea Eagles, led by Suherman, over a 77-hectare plot of land.
The tenants claimed they had cultivated the land for decades and had a land statement letter, while the other side's claims aligned with those of PT SAT Bangun Sukses and a location designation document issued by the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority for PT MIG Perkasa Industri. Police officers and soldiers from various units were deployed to secure the location and arrest the perpetrators.
The incident's origins trace back to a long-standing land conflict. Barelang City Police chief Sr. Comr. Anggoro Wicaksoono informed The Jakarta Post that multiple security and mediation efforts were attempted without success.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
