Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – A 48-year-old man was burned to death in Langkat, North Sumatra, on Monday night after threatening local residents with a parang.
Langkat Police spokesperson Adj. Comr. Joko Sumpeno said that a mob of local residents burned Ngertiken Sembiring to death after he threatened several people, including two women, at around 11 p.m. Monday in Namo Mbelin village in Kuala district.
Joko said that the victim died at the scene and his remains had been brought to Kuala community health center. Police personnel were deployed to the village to secure the scene.
"The location is now secure. The case is being handled by the Kuala Police," Joko told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Joko said that local residents were aggravated by the victim, who was believed to be under the influence of alcohol, and who had repeatedly threatened people previously.
Elsewhere in the province, a 16-year-old boy died and two others were injured after being beaten by a mob for throwing lit firecrackers into a mosque compound while a Quran recital was under way in Deli Serdang, late on Sunday.
Beringin Police chief Adj. Comr. Doni Simanjuntak said the three teenagers were riding a motorcycle and had thrown the firecrackers into the mosque compound in Pasar V Kebun Kelapa village at around 11.30 p.m.
Participants in the recital chased down the teenagers, who later crashed their vehicle and were then severely beaten by the mob. Police brought the teenagers to a local hospital for treatment, but one teenager died. The other two were still being treated. (dre)