Inp.polri.go.id - Jayapura. A violent riot in Elelim, Yalimo Regency, Papua Mountains, on Tuesday (16/9/2025) erupted from what police described as a classroom dispute among students at Elelim Senior High School.

“According to reports, the conflict between students triggered the riot,” Papua Regional Police Head of Public Relations Senior Superintendent Cahyo Sukarnito told antaranews.com. 

Security forces remain deployed to contain the unrest.

Yalimo Sub-regional Police Chief Senior Inspector Joni Samonsabra said the trouble began when a student, identified as AB, allegedly made an offensive remark to a classmate. The remark escalated into an assault on AB inside the school. Efforts to mediate in the teachers’ office failed, as more students and bystanders joined in, even attacking teachers who tried to intervene.

The violence spread beyond the school, with rioters torching kiosks, an officer’s residence, and the Yalimo Police barracks. One police officer was struck in the head with an arrow and is under medical care.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)