KARUBAGA, PAPUA PEGUNUNGAN, INDONESIA – OCTOBER 24, 2026 Bloody conflict between two families broke out in the evening on Jalan Irian Street. A dispute between 23-year-old DK and 26-year-old PJ escalated into a machete attack and a subsequent mass brawl, during which relatives of both men attacked each other with machetes, bows and arrows, and stones.
DK suffered serious slash wounds on the left side of his face that extended to the area behind his ear. Police officers transported him to RSUD Tolikara Hospital, where doctors confirmed his death at 7:30 p.m. The suspect in the attack was subsequently arrested and placed in police custody.
Papua, which is part of Indonesia, is home to hundreds of indigenous ethnic groups with their own traditions and customary laws. Disputes between families or communities can escalate into violent clashes, sometimes involving traditional weapons such as machetes, bows and arrows.
