The Buleleng Regency Government has committed to funding the education and long-term recovery of the three children left behind by KD, the man beaten to death by a mob in Tabanan after allegedly being caught stealing a fighting rooster, marking one of the most comprehensive government responses yet to a case that has drawn national attention and public grief.
Putu Kariaman, Head of Buleleng’s Social Affairs, Women’s Empowerment, and Child Protection Agency (Dinsos P3A), said his team visited the grieving family’s home alongside the head of Buleleng’s Education, Youth, and Sports Agency (Disdikpora) and the Banjar District Chief.
A Household Still in Mourning
“Thankfully, the situation is calm, but the family and community are still in mourning,” Kariaman said when contacted on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
During the visit, government officials delivered aid packages including staple foods and usable clothing to KD’s widow, children, and parents.
Protecting the Children’s Future
Kariaman said the government’s primary focus now is ensuring the tragedy that took their father’s life doesn’t derail the futures of KD’s three children. “The Regent, Deputy Regent, and Regional Secretary strongly hope that the children’s education can continue uninterrupted,” he said.
According to Kariaman, the children will receive support through Indonesia’s Smart Indonesia Program (PIP), a national scholarship initiative. KD’s second child, currently in the first year of vocational high school, will be given the opportunity to continue their education at Karangasem Regency’s People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat), with tuition fully covered by the government.
Broader Support for the Family
Beyond education, Dinsos P3A plans to propose additional social assistance for the surviving family. KD’s widow will be nominated for an economic empowerment program aimed at supporting families, while the family’s home will be proposed for assistance under Indonesia’s Integrated Prosperous Housing Program (RST), which funds home renovations for families in need.
Psychological Support Beginning Immediately
To help the children process their trauma, Dinsos P3A will deploy a team of psychologists starting Monday, July 27, 2026.
“Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin psychological support sessions. On the surface, their condition appears to be improving, but ongoing support remains essential to ensure this tragedy doesn’t become a long-term burden for the children, and to assess the extent of depression they may be experiencing,” Kariaman said.
Background: A Death That Moved a Nation
KD died after being beaten by a mob in Banjar Dinas Juwuk Legi, Batunya Village, Baturiti District, Tabanan, in the early hours of Friday, July 24, 2026, after allegedly being caught stealing a fighting rooster. Residents also set his motorbike on fire during the attack.
Why This Response Stands Out
Buleleng’s comprehensive support package, spanning education, housing, economic assistance, and mental health care, represents a notably fuller government response than a one-time gesture, addressing not just the family’s immediate needs but their long-term stability. Combined with a Bali senator’s earlier pledge to fund the children’s education and Tabanan Regency’s separate compensation offer, the case has now drawn coordinated support from multiple layers of government, a response scale rarely seen for victims of vigilante violence in rural Indonesia.
For a story that first reached international attention through a viral video of the victim’s youngest daughter grieving beside his body, this latest development offers a measure of concrete reassurance: that the children’s education, housing, and psychological wellbeing will be actively supported in the months and years ahead, even as questions remain about accountability for those responsible for their father’s death.
