Kupang – At least 20 members of the police mobile brigade (Brimob) unit based in Atambua town went on a rampage in Fatuknutuk village Friday, damaging 12 residents' houses and a number of public facilities, an officer said on Friday.

Belu Regency Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Ekotrio Budhiniar said there were no human casualties reported in the incident, which took place on Thursday, but hundreds of residents were traumatized by the ordeal and had fled into the forest, including a mother who had just given birth.

The attack was believed to be a retaliatory action following the death of their colleague, First Brig. Jupiter Baslau, on Jan. 15, who the officers believed had been killed by local residents, Ekotrio said.

"We received reports that the Brimob personnel had descended on the village to look for the perpetrators of the killing. We have detained five residents strongly suspected in the killing," he said.

Head of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Kupang grand diocese, Father Maxi Un Bria, and a priest from the Atambua diocese, Father Gerardus Tallo, said that the Brimob personnel traveled in a truck in the attack, and they were carrying firearms but did not open fire.

"They destroyed 12 houses and their contents, including kitchen utensils. They kicked and broke windows," said Father Gerardus.

Separately, Father Maxi said that three houses were badly damaged and so were a number of public places, like the farmers' meeting hall, the Catholic junior high school dormitory and the Aitabelak traditional house. "A note threatening the residents was also found," said Maxi.