Yesterday (Wednesday, 19th July), a crocodile was seen dragging a corpse of an Indonesian man along a river in Kalimantan.
In a rather strange revelation, locals claimed that the cold blooded reptile was returning the body a day after killing him. Many believed that supernatural forces were at work.
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, a 41-year-old man named Syarifuddin and his friends were taking a bath in the Berau river with some friends when a 2-metre long crocodile attacked Syarifuddin and drag him away into the river. A search was carried out by the local police force but to no avail.
After finding themselves at the dead end, the locals and the police decided to turn to a village “pawang buaya” (known as someone with the ability to control crocodiles). The next day, a ritual was performed. What took place soon after was captured in a video (see below) that has since gone viral in Indonesia.
Warning: The video contains graphic imagery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GshrUV1QfY
In the handphone recorded video, locals can be heard screaming for the crocodile to release the body. “The strange thing is, there were three crocodiles that emerged in the river, as if they were guarding the victim’s body. It’s like they were dropping off the victim,” Talisayan District Police Chief Faisal Hamid told Warta Kota.
Faisal later added, “Crocodiles live in that river, and locals also regularly bathe there. It’s just bad luck that (Syarifuddin) was snapped by a crocodile. The right side of the victim’s torso was torn open”.
Syarifuddin’s body was recovered shortly after and was given a proper burial.
Sources: Coconuts Jakarta, Lowyat Forum, Batam News/ Featured image: Tribun News.
