A bloody fight in Batu Merah Village, Lampihong District, Balangan Regency, between AR (35) and RU (35) was finally investigated by the Balangan Police Criminal Investigation Unit on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) before sunset.
Police arrived at the scene in Batu Merah Village and then at the Balangan Regency Hospital, where both victims were evacuated and treated.
The incident resulted in AR's death from slash wounds from a sharp weapon. RU suffered slash wounds to his back and mouth, requiring medical treatment.
At the scene, it was discovered that AR was still alive. This information was conveyed by the ambulance driver to the police when they met him at the hospital. However, AR's condition was quite serious, with numerous slash wounds on his body, and he was groaning in pain while being rushed to the hospital.
The Head of the Balangan Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Joko Supriyadi, explained that the fight between AR and RU was allegedly caused by a disagreement between the two parties, which then escalated into an assault using a sharp weapon.
Based on statements obtained from witnesses at the scene, the Balangan Police Criminal Investigation Unit has gathered information regarding the origins of the deadly fight.
The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit stated that, based on AR's wife, IS (31), a witness to the incident, IS and AR initially argued at home. RU, who was at RA's house, tried to break up the argument.
"AR is suspected of being offended when RU tried to intervene. He then grabbed a machete from the house and slashed RU, hitting him on the lip," explained Iptu Joko.
"AR then ran out of the house and fell in front of the house, leading to a struggle between AR and RU for the machete," he added.
During the struggle, AR attempted to slash RU again in the back. However, RU then managed to snatch the sharp weapon, who then pursued AR.
AR managed to run about 50 meters from his house, heading towards his brother's house. However, at the end of their escape, RU pursued and slashed AR several times right at his brother's house.
Local residents arrived at the scene, but none dared to intervene, as the two were fighting with sharp weapons.
Police officers who arrived at the scene attempted to break up the fight, but both had already suffered slash wounds. After being apprehended, both AR and RU were immediately taken to Datu Kandang Haji Regional Hospital for further treatment.
Several pieces of evidence were also seized from this incident, including the machetes used in the attacks, as well as bloody clothing belonging to both AR, who died in the fight, and RU, who sustained injuries and received medical treatment.
This incident, said the Head of Criminal Investigation at Balangan Police, was a criminal act of assault resulting in death as referred to in Article 466 paragraph (3) of the Criminal Code which occurred between AR as the victim and RU as the suspect.
