Jakarta – The Makassar Police say they will track down the people who looted and set fire to a truck during a protest against the government's impending fuel price hike on Wednesday.

"We will investigate the incident and arrest the culprits. We've identified them already," Makassar Police chief Sr. Comr. Erwin Triwanto said on Thursday.

Five cars were damaged and a gas station and a minimarket damaged when students and police clashed in front of the gate of Hasanuddin University Tamalanrea on Wednesday.

According to the police, the students looted the truck, owned by a local Coca-cola bottler, before setting it afire. They dispersed at 5 p.m. local time, when the rector intervened as asked the student to return to campus.

The rally, one of several across the nation, turned violent when protesters stopped several vehicles containing government officials and a truck carrying hundreds of 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters.

One group participating in the rally, the National Students League for Democracy (LMND), denied allegations that the students were involved.

"We did stage a rally on Wednesday morning, but we dispersed peacefully afterwards," South Sulawesi LMND chairman Muhammad Makbul said as quoted by tribunnews.com. (dmr)