Muara Batang Gadis Police sub-precinct office in Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra, is set ablaze on Dec 20, 2025. The sub-precinct office was burned by angry local people after hearing the police had released a suspected drug dealer. - Photo: Antara
JAKARTA: A mob burned the Muara Batang Gadis Police sub-precinct office in Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra, on Saturday (Dec 20), reportedly as a result of local anger at what they perceived to be a police decision to release an alleged drug dealer.
There were no fatalities in the incident, but a number of vehicles were damaged.
Several police officers in the building fled when the angry crowd approached.
Singkuang village head Sapiudin Tampubolon said the action was triggered by residents’ anger after they received information that a drug dealer they had handed over to the police had been released.
Local people, dominated by women, had detained the alleged drug dealer on Friday while conducting a raid on locations believed to be the center of drug activities in the village.
The detained man was then handed over to Muara Batang Gadis Police at about 4.30pm.
However, the villagers learned early on Saturday morning that he had subsequently been released.
“The residents came to Muara Batang Gadis Police and the arson occurred at that time,” Sapiudin said on Saturday.
“People were angry because the drug dealer had been released. Drug dealing in the region has become a major problem.” He added that the attack on the police office was a spontaneous outburst of anger on the people’s part against the police.
Mandailing Natal Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ari Sofandi Paloh said the raid by local people was a reaction to alleged drug activities in Singkuang village.
During the raid, residents threw stones at houses and shophouses that were suspected of being used for drug activities.
Ari said a person who was believed to be involved in a drugs network had escaped to neighboring West Sumatra province and was being sought by police.
However, the police did detain another person in Muara Batang Gadis Police for further questioning.
Ari said that person was detained to prevent wider public unrest, including possible assaults and arson by local residents.
He added that the detained person had not been named a suspect and was not believed to be involved drug activities.
Meanwhile, North Sumatra Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Ferry Walintukan confirmed Muara Batang Gadis Police sub-precinct office had been burned by a group of residents from Singkuang I and Singkuang II villages.
Given the threatening nature of the situation officers had abandoned the sub-precinct office.
The crowd then burned the building and two police motorcycles. They also overturned a police car.
However, Ferry denied allegations that the Muara Batang Gadis Police had released a drug dealer.
“Residents believed that the suspect had been released. He was not released but he escaped from Muara Batang Gadis Police’s detention cell,” Ferry said on Saturday.
He added that the police were actively pursuing the suspected drug dealer. “We have deployed our officers to recapture the suspect,” Ferry said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
