Sampang, East Java (ANTARA News) - Mobs wielding sharp weapons besieged the house of a local Shiite leader in Sampang on Madura island, East Java, Thursday morning, following the torching of a Shiite school, prayer house and leader`s house.

The mobs from two different groups, Shiite and Sunni, surrounded the Shiite leader`s house after the torching incident allegedly done by members of the Sunni group.

"We deplore the incident because Shiites are not an illegal sect," local Shiite leader Tajul Muluk said, adding he hoped the police could immediately find the perpetrators.

Some personnel from the Sampang local police and the military (TNI) had been deployed to the location to secure the situation there, directly led by the chief of the Sampang police resort, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Solehan.

The burning of a Shiah school in Karang Garam, Karangpenang sub-district, Sampang, Madura, occurred at around 9.30am.

There has not been reports about casualties in the incident while investigation is still being carried out.

This was the second torching incident this month after the one on Saturday (December 17) at around 3am on the house of a Shiite follower, Moh Siri, in the village of Gaddhing Laok, Bluuran, in the sub-district of Karangpenang, Sampang.

The conflict between Shiites and Sunnis in Sampang dates back to several years ago and early this year mobs even tried to drive the Shiite leader in Sampang away from the village on the ground that Shiites were a deviant sect.

"We hope the authorities will settle the case because Shiitism is not deviant and has been recognized across the world just like Sunnis," Tajul Muluk said.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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