Autopsy Conducted on Two Siblings Killed in Kanjuruhan Stadium Crush

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Six forensic doctors of East Java's Indonesian Forensic Doctors Association (PDFI) autopsied two siblings, NBR, 16, and NDA, 13, who were killed along with their mother during the Kanjuruhan stadium crush in Malang, East Java, on October 1, 2022.

Head of PDFI East Java Dr Nabil Bahasuan stated on Saturday that the doctors, who performed the autopsy using the exhumation method, were part of an independent team created by the association.

"We have formed an independent team consisting of two advisors and six operators," he remarked.

The doctors were from the Faculty of Medicine of Hang Tuah University, Airlangga University, and the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, among others.

The autopsy also involved personnel of the Kanjuruhan Hospital in Malang District, Doctor Sutomo Hospital in Surabaya, Syarifah Hospital in Bangkalan, and the Unair Teaching Hospital.

"The team's two advisers do not come. The six others (doctors) are here doing the exhumations," he revealed.

On that occasion, Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police Senior Commissioner Dirmanto remarked that the police also escorted the exhumation process. Several police officers were alerted, so that the autopsy process for the Kanjuruhan victims went smoothly.

"We also help set up a security system here, so that the process runs smoothly," he remarked.

NBR and NDA were the children of Devi Athok and Dei Athok, who also died in the same incident, were the residents of Bululawang Sub-District, Malang.

The two siblings and their mother were buried at the Patuk Hamlet Public Cemetery, Sukolilo Village, Malang.

Devi Athok, the father of the victims, had initially refused autopsy on his children.

The Kanjuruhan tragedy occurred following a football match between Arema FC of Malang and Persebaya of Surabaya. Only supporters of Arema were present during the match, as supporters of Persebaya were not allowed to come on account of security concerns.

Chaos broke out when a number of supporters of Arema FC, who were disappointed when Arema lost 2-3 to Parsebaya, stormed the pitch at the end of the match.

The Malang police, supported by military personnel, attempted to restore order by firing massive barrage of tear gas munitions, among other things.

The firing of at least 40 rounds of munitions at the crowd within a 10-minute span, in violation of national protocols and international security guidelines for soccer matches, sent fans streaming for the exits. The munitions included tear gas, flash bangs and flares.

Results of two independent investigations showed that the use of tear gas by the police had triggered a stadium crush that caused the deaths of 135 people and injuries to some 600 others.

Many fans were either trampled to death or fatally crushed against walls and metal gates because some of the exits were closed, the investigation found. The Indonesian National Police did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

ANTARA

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