News

Some 21 killed in tithe distribution

NU Online  ·  Selasa, 16 September 2008 | 03:45 WIB

Surabaya, NU Online
At least 21 people were trampled to death when a philanthropist, identified as H Syaichon, distributed tithes among poor people on Dr Wahidin street in the East Java town of Pasuruan on Monday.

"As of 12 noon, some 21 bodies have been sent to Dr Sudarsono Hospital in Pasuruan while dozens of others were left unconscious," a hospital source said.<>

The source said at least 21 people had been trampled to death as thousands of people in the crowd were jostling to get their share of the tithes.

No security personnel were on hand at the scene of the incident. Antara reported.

Meanwhile, Pasuruan Mayor Aminurrohman who visited the injured at the hospital said he deeply deplored the incident because Syaichon had failed to coordinate his plan to conduct a charitable activity with municipal security and administration officials.

"Syaichon`s initiative to distribute tithes to the poor was good and noble but the way he did it was wrong because it ended up with at least 21 fatalities," Aminurrohman said, adding that Syaichon was at present being questioned at the Pasuruan police office. (dar)