A joint team successfully apprehended a man identified by the initials RD (30), who was reported to have caused distress among climbers in the Mount Dempo area, Pagar Alam City, South Sumatra. The perpetrator was arrested after officers conducted an intensive sweep along the climbing trail following reports of armed intimidation.
Upon arrest, the resident of Jarai, Lahat Regency, was found still holding the air rifle he used to threaten the climbers. The head of the Mount Dempo Volcano Registration Center (BRIGADE), Dian Mari, confirmed the arrest and stated that the perpetrator has now been secured to maintain the conduciveness of the natural tourism area.
Based on initial investigation, RD admitted he committed the act because he received mystical whispers claimed to be from ancestors. Under the pretext of giving a warning, he forced climbers to follow his instructions, such as taking off their clothes and bathing in Telaga Putri. If his commands were rejected, the perpetrator did not hesitate to threaten to push the victims into the crater of Mount Dempo while brandishing the weapon.
Due to this disturbing intimidation, officers were forced to evacuate 42 climbers from various regions to anticipate undesirable events. The evacuation process was carried out quickly to ensure the safety of nature lovers at the scene.
Although temporarily detained, RD was ultimately not legally prosecuted. Officers chose to hand the perpetrator directly over to his family, accompanied by a firm appeal for him to receive strict supervision to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future.
