Traditional Catholic celebration in Manggarai turns deadly after late-night street fight

Wae Ri’i — Police in Manggarai are investigating a late-night fight between two groups of villagers during a traditional Catholic celebration in Wae Ri’i subdistrict that left a 19-year-old man dead and several vehicles and a house damaged.

The clash broke out on a road in front of a party tent in Wohe village, Bangka Jong, after a thanksgiving gathering linked to First Holy Communion earlier in the day, according to Manggarai police and multiple local media reports.

Floresa.co reported that the celebration, locally known as a pesta sambut baru, followed a First Communion service for school children at the parish church in Timung on Friday, 18 September 2026.

Later that night, tensions escalated between residents of Timung in Golo Cador village and residents of Wohe in Bangka Jong village, both in Wae Ri’i subdistrict, leading to a street fight outside the party venue.

Police and local media identified the victim as Benediktus Paang, a 19-year-old from Timung.

According to the Manggarai police spokesperson quoted by regional outlets, Paang complained of pain in his head and abdomen after being involved in the fight.

Family members brought him to Timung community health centre on Saturday morning, 19 September 2026, but medical staff declared that he had died before arriving at the facility.

Officials and local reports describe the case as suspected serious assault resulting in death, with the investigation still in its early stages.

Local media citing police information say some people involved in the fight were believed to have been under the influence of alcohol consumed during the party.

In addition to the fatality, Manggarai’s deputy regent said that a house belonging to a suspected perpetrator in Wohe was damaged and four motorcycles were burned during the unrest.

The deputy regent, Fabianus Abu, publicly expressed regret over the incident and urged residents of the two villages to avoid reprisals and allow the police investigation to proceed.

He also reminded the public that the Manggarai regency government had temporarily banned large parties and gatherings following recent earthquakes, with the ban in force from 15 August until 28 September 2026.

Abu said the prohibition was intended to prevent crowds and minimise security risks at a time when the community was still recovering.

Floresa.co’s account of the events broadly matches details carried by regional news outlets in the Tribun Flores network, which published police chronology of the fight, the victim’s condition and the subsequent medical findings.

Manggarai’s police chief has stated that officers have taken legal and investigative steps following the clash and are handling the case.

Police have also moved to secure both communities involved, according to a separate report summarised by a provincial news outlet.

The incident took place in a rural area of Manggarai regency, far from major tourism centres, but it highlights the potential for local tensions around large celebrations at a time of heightened sensitivity after natural disasters.

Sources

• Floresa.co
• Tribun Flores