"The police officers were sent to the site to contain the situation. So none of them were involved in the incident. Since the first clash occurred, I instructed the chief of the district police to investigate it. Unless the police officers were deployed there, the number of dead victims could have been more than two," he said here on Wednesday.
Ismail made the remark after receiving the chief of the Maluku Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) Edwin Adrian Huwae, deputy chiefs Richard Rahakbauw and Elvyana Pattiasina, and chiefs of seven factions of the DPRD.
The clash erupted after a newcomer tortured a local resident. The incident angered other locals who later set fire to the newcomers semi-built homes.
Ismail stated that the police were investigating the case and asked the public to not believe in the rumors being spread by irresponsible persons.
He added that he had also received a short text message from Jakarta enquiring about the truth behind a report that 10 people were killed in the clash.
The report was totally unfounded, he remarked.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
