Afrida, Banda Aceh – Hundreds of people set fire to the offices of former separatist rebels in Central Aceh on Saturday, killing four people and throwing one person down a 35-meter well.

Around 1:30 a.m. the crowd attacked the Aceh Transitional Commission's office in the remote Atu Lintang area, 30 kilometers from the regency's capital, Takengon, a village head said.

Muhri, who heads the Meurah Pupok village, said around 300 people "attacked and burned down the Commission's office where a number of former GAM (Free Aceh Movement) rebels were staying".

Many residents stayed indoors over the weekend while others came to watch the remains of the fire.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Kawendar dismissed speculations about the motive of the attack. Central Aceh has seen deadly clashes among rebels and local armed civilians, many of whom are descendants of Javanese migrants.

"We are still investigating the motive behind the attack," Kawendar told Reuters.

He said four people died in the blaze and confirmed one person was thrown into a 35-meter well. Another person was seriously wounded and was being treated in hospital.

Seven police officers on the site could not stop the attack and it took several hours for back-up to arrive, the police official said. There had been no arrests so far, Reuters reported.

Former GAM leaders asked the public to remain calm and said they were confident the police would resolve the case.

A landmark agreement between the government and GAM led to the end of decades of armed conflict and then elections in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.

Many issues remain unresolved, including the distribution of compensation for former members of both GAM and of several militia groups.