April 14, 2026 | 05:06 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of residents attacked a house belonging to a man identified as A, suspected to be a hub for drug trafficking in Panipahan, Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau. Prior to the attack, residents had visited the Panipahan Police Headquarters to urge officers to arrest a suspected dealer known as M.
The Head of Public Relations of the Riau Regional Police, Commissioner Besar Zahwani Pandra Arsyad, stated the unrest was triggered by public frustration over the slow pace of law enforcement. "They demanded that societal diseases such as drugs, gambling, and prostitution be eradicated," Pandra said on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Pandra explained that while police had received the community's complaints, officers must coordinate with relevant parties before taking action. "We cannot immediately close every report without due process," Pandra said when contacted.
Emphasizing that the police require time to investigate, Pandra urged the public to place their trust in the authorities. According to him, law enforcement is a last resort or ultimum remedium.
The police also cautioned the public against taking the law into their own hands. "Do not encourage people to act anarchically every time when feeling dissatisfied," Pandra said.
As widely reported, around 500 residents stormed the house on Friday, April 10, 2026. The crowd broke in, removed several items, and set the building on fire.
Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan said the police have followed up on the incident and visited the scene. "We understand the community's anxiety regarding drugs," Herry said.
Herry added that the Panipahan Police Chief and the Head of the local Criminal Investigation Unit have been removed from their posts as part of an internal evaluation. "We see that there are things that did not go as they should have," Herry said in a written statement.
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