Preliminary police investigations said that the seven teenagers drowned after jumping into the river when they were suspected of trying to avoid police arrest. Authorities believe they could not swim and were swept away by the current.
“It can be assumed that they jumped,” said Director of General Criminal Investigation of the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Region Wira Satya Triputra, as quoted by local media platform Tempo, following an examination of the bodies at the police hospital on Sunday.
Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto also confirmed that the seven teenagers threw themselves into the river fearing a police patrol around the area according to local media, Detik.
On Monday, the police reported 22 individuals were arrested during a raid on a reported brawl on Saturday. They also seized 21 sharp weapons, 30 motorcycles, and eight mobile phones.
According to Kompas, this evidence was recovered from a small hut located in front of the PT Gudang Semen Merah Putih cement warehouse, near the scene.
Of those arrested, three have been named as suspects for carrying long celurit—bladed weapons commonly associated with street violence.
According to media reports, the incident occurred after a group of teenagers gathered at a small grocery stall, staying there until the early hours of Saturday morning.
According to preliminary reports, the group was said to be celebrating the birthday of one of the teenagers, Mr Muhammad Rizky, 19. His body was later found among the seven who died in the river.
“Earlier, we were informed that they were celebrating a birthday. But if it was a birthday, where’s the cake?” Mr Karyoto was quoted speaking at the scene by Kompas.
Police confirmed they had conducted the raid following information from local residents that there was a brawl but when they arrived many teenagers had already fled the scene.
Police reportedly believe that some of the teenagers had jumped into the river behind the grocery store in a desperate attempt to escape the police raid.
Rawa Lumbu Regional Police Chief Sukadi said that teenage brawls are a frequent occurrence in the area, with similar incidents happening once or twice a week.
“Police cars with their sirens blaring approached the group that was said to be involved in a brawl. They fled to the back of a small house in front of the river,” said Mr Sukadi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
Authorities have yet to confirm how many teenagers besides the seven who drowned had attempted to flee by jumping into the river.
Jakarta police chief Karyoto also defended the police patrol carried out in the early hours of Saturday, saying that it was justified, given the seriousness of the brawl.
“Our patrol was appropriate; this was a significant issue within our jurisdiction. We conducted the patrol at 3am, a time when most people are asleep. Yet, these are underage kids (though) some are over 18. We haven’t accounted for all of them yet,” said Mr Karyoto.
Police are now interviewing the victims’ friends and family members to gain a clearer understanding of their activities leading up to the tragic incident. They are also awaiting the results of the post-mortem and autopsy reports, which are expected to shed further light on the cause of death.
According to observers, teenage brawls, known locally as tawuran, are an alarming phenomenon in Indonesia. Authorities have identified peer pressure and the pursuit of social recognition as key factors driving such behaviour.
They add that students with poor academic performance are often involved in these brawls.
Acting Chairperson of the National Commission for Children (Komnas Anak), Lia Latifah, said that there is also a growing concern over child abuse and violence which could contribute to the rise of teenage brawls.
In January she she was quoted by local media platform Kompas as saying that child abuse is on the rise in Indonesia with the number of cases in 2023 reaching 3,547, a 27 per cent increase from the previous year.
She emphasised the importance of community involvement in reporting incidents that pose risks to children’s safety. She also urged police to act swiftly in order to prevent such incidents from escalating into tragedies.
Ms Lia also noted that the problem reflects deeper social changes among Indonesia’s youth. They include the wider spread of social media, economic pressures, lifestyle shifts, and inadequate education.
She called for a collaborative effort from all sectors to address the root causes and to ensure the safety and well-being of the nation’s children.
