Farouk Arnaz, Anita Rachman & Nurfika Osman, Jakarta – National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said on Friday that every officer being interrogated in relation to Tuesday's deadly rioting in Buol, Central Sulawesi, would be presumed innocent, irrespective of how security conditions had spiraled out of control.

"Protesters burned down our offices, our official homes and equipment. They ignored us and were completely unresponsive to our warnings. Should we have allowed them to create even more choas?" Bambang told reporters on Friday, three days after the rioting claimed at least seven lives and left up to 34 injured.

The bloodshed was triggered by the mysterious death of a man in a police detention cell. Enraged, villagers threw Molotov cocktails and stones at the police station, leaving at least 19 officers wounded. Police then fired into the crowd.

"My team is now at the scene collecting evidence. The correct decisions will be taken to deal with this," Bambang said. He said the suspicious death at the Biau subprecinct police office in Buol would be treated as a separate case from the arson and rioting at the police station. He added that once the criminal investigations were completed, a police internal affairs investigation would begin.

"We shall be transparent with the results of this internal affairs investigation of officers involved. At the least, officers at Biau Police office were unprofessional because they failed to provide sufficient care for a prisoner, which resulted, let's say, in his suicide," Bambang said of the man who villagers allege was mistreated or worse.

Police have identified at least four police officers by name being questioned at the Central Sulawesi Police headquarters over the incident. They are Buol Traffic Police Chief First. Insp. Jefri Pantow; Biau Police Chief First Insp. Zakir Butudoka; Brig. Amirulloh; and Brig. James Jhon Pantow.

Police had earlier identified the man who had died in police custody on Monday as Kasmir Y Timumun. A National Police spokesman, Sr. Comr. Untung Yoga Ana, said on Friday that Kasmir had been found dead in his cell, hanging from a sarong tied around his neck.

"According to a medical examination, he committed suicide. His family, however, does not believe this as wounds and bruises were found on his body," Untung said.

Kasmir was arrested on Aug. 28 because he was involved in a motorcycle street race in Buol. However, police said that when an officer tried to arrest him, he attempted to escape and hit Second Brig. Ridwan M, who was hospitalized from the attack.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that those responsible should be held accountable. He said local administrators needed to explain how the situation could spin out of control to the point that angry mobs were roaming the streets in search of police officers.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said on Friday that he was saddened by the events in Buol during the holy month of Ramadan.

"But of course we must get to the root of the problem. How could this happen?" Patrialis said. He added that he did not know who instigated the rioting.

Ridha Saleh, deputy chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM), told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that police should not have opened fire on the protesters.